DC in year 10 is studying ww1 and while looking for relevant things with them on the internet, I found the attached. I am really shocked by it and even though it was written so long ago, in 1928, it seems quite an eye opener and almost relevant as we now seem to be part stumbling into another world conflict. I am a regular but nc for this because I know there are a lot of posters on MN who are in favour of war. Hearing about conscription in a certain western European country to start from 2027 for over 18s, hospitals in another western European country being asked to prepare for a genuine war situation with casualties and limited resources from 2026, while Trump tries to solve wars here and there and gets mocked and others rattle sabres, it makes me think we all need to give our heads a wobble, and it seems there was also reason to think that this was the case in 1914.
It was was written by Arthur Ponsonby who was a politician, writer, social activist. His father had been an adviser to Queen Victoria so as well as being MP etc, he was very much "establishment".
Below is the link and here is an extract from the start of it and parts of the introduction:
"[Arthur Augustus William Harry Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede (16 February 1871 - 23 March 1946) was a British politician, writer, and social activist. He was the third son of Sir Henry Ponsonby, Private Secretary to Queen Victoria. Lord Ponsonby is probably most remembered for the statement: "When war is declared, truth is the first casualty." The following was scanned and posted by Geoffrey Miller, on the WWI Listserve. ]
FALSEHOOD IN WAR-TIME:
Propaganda Lies of the First World War
by Arthur Ponsonby MP
1928 [publishers and contents list removed]
INTRODUCTION
THE object of this volume is not to cast fresh blame on authorities and individuals, nor is it to expose one nation more than another to accusations of deceit. Falsehood is a recognized and extremely useful weapon in warfare, and every country uses it quite deliberately to deceive its own people, to attract neutrals, and to mislead the enemy.
The ignorant and innocent masses in each country are unaware at the time that they are being misled, and when it is all over only here and there are the falsehoods discovered and exposed. As it is all past history and the desired effect has been produced by the stories and statements, no one troubles to investigate the facts and establish the truth. [ ]
A useful purpose can therefore be served in the interval of so-called peace by a warning which people can examine with dispassionate calm, that the authorities in each country do, and indeed must, resort to this practice in order, first, to justify themselves by depicting the enemy as an undiluted criminal; and secondly, to inflame popular passion sufficiently to secure recruits for the continuance of the struggle. They cannot afford to tell the truth. In some cases it must be admitted that at the moment they do not know what the truth is. [ ]
With a warning before them, the common people may be more on their guard when the war cloud next appears on the horizon and less disposed to accept as truth the rumours, explanations, and pronouncements issued for their consumption. They should realize that a Government which has decided on embarking on the hazardous and terrible enterprise of war must at the outset present a one-sided case in justification of its action, and cannot afford to admit in any particular whatever the smallest degree of right or reason on the part of the people it has made up its mind to fight. Facts must be distorted, relevant circumstances concealed and a picture presented which by its crude colouring will persuade the ignorant people that their Government is blameless, their cause is righteous, and that the indisputable wickedness of the enemy has been proved beyond question. A moment's reflection would tell any reasonable person that such obvious bias cannot possibly represent the truth. But the moment's. reflection is not allowed; lies are circulated with great rapidity. The unthinking mass accept them and by their excitement sway the rest. The amount of rubbish and humbug that pass under the name of patriotism in war-time in all countries is sufficient to make decent people blush when they are subsequently disillusioned."
http://www.vlib.us/wwi/resources/archives/texts/t050824i/ponsonby.html#23