1917-1923

• The British War Cabinet met on 10 January 1919 to discuss matter of the Russian Civil War
• 9 January 1919 - Churchill accepted PM David Lloyd George's offer of a role in War Office. His task was to demobilise and bring home 4 million men
• Churchill was worried about a revolution after WW1 - happened in Russia . He was worried about strike activity and issues with trade unions -> railway, miners, transport workers
• As secretary of state for war - used emergency powers to deploy British troops to prevent spread of revolution
• White Army

  Represented a large group of allied forces - monarchists, capitalists, democratic socialists
• Bolshevism

  Red Threat
• Lord Beaverbrook strongly opposed the intervention in Russia
• British public and armed forces were weary of war
• The economy was in dire situation - high unemployment and simple produce was expensive
• Lloyd George required peace in Russia to ensure trade
• Sir Henry Wilson pointed out that there had been signs of unrest in the army and being sent to Russia was unpopular. Marshal Foch said it was urgent
• Churchill supported Foch
• Wilson was Churchill's senior adviser on military affairs but frequently disagreed