Fallacies and Facts. An Answer to "Compulsory Service".

First edition. 8vo., cloth. London, John Murray.

A presentation copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper 'L.S.Amery with kindest regards and grateful thanks from Roberts 18th March 1911', underneath which Amery has annotated with a star next to 'grateful thanks' 'For writing part II. LSA'. Some pencilled side-linings in the text, contents leaf annotated LSA next to 'part II The Military and Naval Situation'.

An answer to General Sir Ian Hamilton's book, published in 1910, two copies of which are in this catalogue. Roberts had published a National Service Bill in the House of Lords in 1909, at a time of great fear of possible German invasion plans, but failed to win over either of the main political parties. The aim of the bill was to establish a fighting force which would be able to withstand an invasion should the regular army be occupied abroad. Hamilton and Roberts were friends, but the debate caused a rift between them. Of the three chapters only one was written by Roberts, 'The Nation's Peril', one other is by Leo Amery as evidenced by the inscription, the other was written by Professor J.A. Cramb. Amery was a Conservative politician well known for his interest in military preparedness, which he displayed anew before the Second World War as one of Churchill's few supporters over the issue of appeasement.

 Covers and endpapers badly damp-stained.

Stock Code: 221917