--- title: H. H. Asquith url: https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/herbert-henry-asquith/ description: 15 verified quotes from H. H. Asquith, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1908 to 1916, with sources. section: FRAME --- ![Illustration: a pre-1914 imperial intelligence-dossier collage of colonial telegraph logs, sepia field photography and empire maps.](https://propagandaarchive.org/static/generated/detail/hero-pre1914.jpg) [Quotes](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/) · United Kingdom # H. H. Asquith ![H. H. Asquith, undated portrait](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/images/asquith-government/herbert-henry-asquith.jpg) [Photo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asquith_LCCN2014687833.jpg): Bain News Service, Public domain (PD-Bain; no known restrictions, Library of Congress) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1908 to 1916 · United Kingdom On the regime page: [Asquith government](https://propagandaarchive.org/regimes/asquith-government/#herbert-henry-asquith) 15 quotes, oldest first. [Filter with other speakers](https://propagandaarchive.org/quotes/#speaker=herbert-henry-asquith). 1. > “The hon. Member must wait and see.” — April 4, 1910 · Statement · London, House of Commons — Asked by members what procedure would be used to introduce the Government's resolutions on the Lords' veto in the House of Lords, the Prime Minister replied briefly. This exchange is commonly cited as the source of the nickname "Wait and See" later attached to him. — Reply to a supplementary question, House of Commons, 4 April 1910, HC Deb (House of Lords Constitution), as recorded in Historic Hansard [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1910/apr/04/house-of-lords-constitution) 2. **Content note:** Argues against votes for women on grounds of sex. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “I oppose this, as I should oppose more logical and more courageous measures which started from the same point, on the broad and simple grounds that in my opinion, as a student of history and of our own public life, experience shows that the natural distinction of sex, which admittedly differentiates the functions of men and women in many departments of human activity, ought to continue to be recognised, as it always has been recognised, in the sphere of Parliamentary representation.” — March 28, 1912 · Speech · London, House of Commons — Asquith, who led a Liberal Cabinet divided on the question, said he spoke as an individual and would vote against the Conciliation Bill. The bill was defeated that evening. — Speech on the second reading of the Parliamentary Franchise (Women) Bill, House of Commons, 28 March 1912, HC Deb vol. 36, c. 654 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1912/mar/28/parliamentary-franchise-women-bill) 3. > “As has been repeatedly stated, this country is not under any obligation not public and known to Parliament which compels it to take part in any war. In other words, if war arises between European Powers there are no unpublished agreements which will restrict or hamper the freedom of the Government or of Parliament to decide whether or not Great Britain should participate in a war.” — March 24, 1913 · Statement · London, House of Commons — Answering questions from backbench members about commitments to France, Asquith said that no unpublished agreement bound Britain to join a European war. Britain's naval and military staff conversations with France had not been disclosed to Parliament. — Reply to questions, House of Commons, 24 March 1913, HC Deb vol. 50, cc. 1316-1317 ("Treaty Obligations (Great Britain)") [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1913/mar/24/treaty-obligations-great-britain) 4. > “I have to add this on behalf of His Majesty's Government: We cannot regard this as in any sense a satisfactory communication. We have, in reply to it, repeated the request we made last week to the German Government, that they should give us the same assurance in regard to Belgian neutrality as was given to us and to Belgium by France last week. We have asked that a reply to that request, and a satisfactory answer to the telegram of this morning—which I have read to the House—should be given before midnight.” — August 4, 1914 · Statement · London, House of Commons — Asquith told the Commons of German troops entering Belgium and of the British demand for assurances, with a time limit of midnight. — Prime Minister's announcement ("Violation of Belgian Neutrality"), House of Commons, 4 August 1914, HC Deb vol. 65, c. 1927 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1914/aug/04/violation-of-belgian-neutrality) 5. > “we are fighting to vindicate the principle which, in these days when force, material force, sometimes seems to be the dominant influence and factor in the development of mankind, we are fighting to vindicate the principle that small nationalities are not to be crushed, in defiance of international good faith, by the arbitrary will of a strong and overmastering Power.” — August 6, 1914 · Speech · London, House of Commons — Moving a vote of credit of 100 million pounds two days after the declaration of war, Asquith set out what Britain was fighting for. — Speech in the House of Commons on the Vote of Credit, 6 August 1914, HC Deb vol. 65, c. 2079 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1914/aug/06/vote-of-credit-lb100000000#column_2079) 6. > “because we believe, and I am certain the country will believe, that we are unsheathing our sword in a just cause.” — August 6, 1914 · Speech · London, House of Commons — From the same speech, immediately before the passage on small nationalities. — Speech in the House of Commons on the Vote of Credit, 6 August 1914, HC Deb vol. 65, c. 2079 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1914/aug/06/vote-of-credit-lb100000000#column_2079) 7. > “For my part, I say that sooner than be a silent witness, which means in effect a willing accomplice of this tragic triumph of force over law and of brutality over freedom, I would see this country of ours blotted out of the page of history.” — September 4, 1914 · Speech · London, Guildhall — A recruiting meeting at which Asquith, Churchill, Balfour and Bonar Law spoke, held after the German advance through Belgium. — Speech at a patriotic meeting of the Citizens of London, Guildhall, 4 September 1914, in Great Speeches of the War (London: Hazell, Watson & Viney, 1915), p. 26 [Source](https://archive.org/details/greatspeechesofw00greyuoft) 8. **Content note:** Wartime atrocity rhetoric against the German army. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “We should have been watching as detached spectators the siege of Liege, the steady and manful resistance of a small Army, the occupation of the capital, with its splendid traditions and memories, the gradual forcing back of the patriotic defenders of their native land to the ramparts of Antwerp, countless outrages suffered by, and buccaneering levies exacted from, the unoffending civil population, and finally the greatest crime committed against civilization and culture since the Thirty Years' War— the sack of Louvain. [Cries of " Shame."] With its buildings, its pictures, its unique library, its unrivalled associations, a shameless holocaust of irreparable treasures lit up by blind barbarian vengeance.” — September 4, 1914 · Speech · London, Guildhall — In the same speech Asquith described the German invasion of Belgium and the destruction at Louvain in August 1914 as an argument for British intervention. — Speech at a patriotic meeting of the Citizens of London, Guildhall, 4 September 1914, in Great Speeches of the War (London: Hazell, Watson & Viney, 1915), p. 26 [Source](https://archive.org/details/greatspeechesofw00greyuoft) 9. > “the action of the Government in introducing this Bill is represented, and I have no doubt honestly believed in many quarters, to be a violation of assurances given by me on their behalf, if not of the letter, at any rate of the spirit of those assurances, and, what is perhaps equally, if not more, serious, an attempt on the part of the Government of the day—at a time of supreme national emergency—to take advantage of the spirit of patriotism which has been so universally and so splendidly manifested for the base purpose of party advantage.” — September 15, 1914 · Speech · London, House of Commons — Asquith introduced a bill to hold the Home Rule and Welsh Church Acts in suspension for the duration of the war, and began by answering Unionist charges that the Government was breaking earlier assurances. — Speech introducing the Suspensory Bill (Government of Ireland and Welsh Church), House of Commons, 15 September 1914, HC Deb vol. 66, c. 882 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1914/sep/15/suspensory-bill) 10. > “In dealing with an opponent who has openly repudiated all the restraints, both of law and of humanity, we are not going to allow our efforts to be strangled in a network of juridical niceties. We do not intend to put into operation any measures which we do not think to be effective, and I need not say we shall carefully avoid any measures which violate the rules either of humanity or of honesty.” — March 1, 1915 · Speech · London, House of Commons — Asquith announced the British and French retaliatory measures against German trade, which extended the British blockade, after Germany declared the waters around Britain a war zone in February 1915. — Prime Minister's announcement on the Allied reply to the German blockade ("Success of Allies Assured"), House of Commons, 1 March 1915, HC Deb vol. 70, c. 600 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1915/mar/01/success-of-allies-assured) 11. > “The third and last point, one of great importance to my hon. Friends behind me, and I have no doubt also to hon. Gentlemen who sit behind the Leader of the Opposition, is this: Any reconstruction that may be made will be for the purposes of the War alone, and is not to be taken in any quarter as any reason for indicating anything in the nature of surrender or compromise on the part of any person or body of persons of their several political purposes and ideals.” — May 19, 1915 · Statement · London, House of Commons — Asquith announced the reconstruction of the Government on a broader basis, after the shell shortage controversy and the resignation of Lord Fisher; the coalition included Conservative and Labour ministers. — Statement by the Prime Minister, House of Commons, 19 May 1915, HC Deb vol. 71, c. 2393 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1915/may/19/statements-by-the-prime-minister-and-mr) 12. **Content note:** Concerns executions after the Easter Rising. The words are shown as they were said or written. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was) — > “We must agree that this is a horrible business. My hon Friend cannot think it is any satisfaction to me or my colleagues not to spare a man's life. It is one of the most painful duties that can possibly be cast on any human being to be responsible for the death of another.” — May 11, 1916 · Speech · London, House of Commons — Asquith was answering John Dillon and others after the executions that followed the Easter Rising and amid questions about the shooting of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington. — Reply in the debate on Ireland (continuance of martial law), House of Commons, 11 May 1916, HC Deb vol. 82, c. 955 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1916/may/11/continuance-of-martial-law) 13. > “The ends of the Allies are well known; they have been frequently and precisely stated. They are not selfish ends, they are not vindictive ends, but they require that there shall be adequate reparation for the past and adequate security for the future.” — October 11, 1916 · Statement · London, House of Commons — Asquith summarised the Allied war aims to the Commons in October 1916, two months before he ceased to be Prime Minister. — Statement by the Prime Minister, House of Commons, 11 October 1916, HC Deb vol. 86, c. 121 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1916/oct/11/statement-by-prime-minister#column_103) 14. > “Nor, again, is the Motion which I am about to make, either in intention or in effect, as I have seen it rather absurdly described, a Vote of Censure upon the Government.” — May 9, 1918 · Speech · London, House of Commons — Asquith, then Leader of the Opposition, moved an inquiry into General Maurice's allegations about ministerial statements on army strength. Lloyd George answered in the same debate and the motion was defeated. — Speech moving a select committee on the Maurice letter, House of Commons, 9 May 1918, HC Deb vol. 105, c. 2347 [Source](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1918/may/09/mb-asquiths-motion) 15. > “No British statesman could have consented to such an ignominious surrender of his country's freedom of action in the future.” — 1923 · Book — Asquith's retrospective account of the 1912 Anglo-German exchanges, after the Haldane mission, explaining why the British Government would not give an unconditional neutrality pledge. — H. H. Asquith, The Genesis of the War (London: Cassell, 1923), p. 56 [Source](https://archive.org/details/genesisofwar00asquuoft) ## Often attributed, not verified These words circulate under H. H. Asquith’s name but could not be traced to a source. They are listed so readers can check them, not as H. H. Asquith’s words. - > “There is not a word of truth in that statement.” — Unverifiable Usually said to come from: Speech at Newcastle, 20 April 1915, denying that the army was crippled for want of ammunition — Widely reported (the speech preceded the shell scandal of May 1915), but the speech text could not be read in a primary source during this check, so no quotation is published. Secondary accounts give the words as "I saw it stated the other day that the operations of our Army were being crippled by our want of ammunition. There is not a word of truth in that statement." - > “Wait and see.” — Paraphrase Usually said to come from: As Asquith's catchphrase in 1910 — The Hansard record of 4 April 1910 reads "The hon. Member must wait and see." The shortened catchphrase is a later formulation of the same reply; the recorded wording is used above.