Political Intelligence Department (1918–1920) facts for kids
The Political Intelligence Department was a special group created by the British government near the end of World War I. Its job was to gather important information about different countries to help Britain make smart decisions.
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What Was the Political Intelligence Department?
This department was set up on March 11, 1918. It was part of the Foreign Office, which is the part of the British government that deals with other countries. Think of it like a team that collected clues and facts for the government.
Why Was This Department Created?
The department was created by Lord Hardinge, who was a very important leader in the Foreign Office. The main reason for its creation was to collect information about political situations, money matters, and military strength in both friendly and enemy countries.
How Did It Help the Government?
The information gathered by the Political Intelligence Department was turned into reports. These reports were then shared with top government officials, including the Prime Minister's team (called the cabinet) and other parts of the Foreign Office. This helped them understand what was happening around the world.
Who Worked in the Department?
The leader of this special department was William Tyrrell. His assistant was James Headlam-Morley. Many of the people working there were historians, like Arnold Toynbee, Lewis Namier, and Alfred Zimmern. They were good at researching and understanding past events, which helped them understand current situations.
Preparing for Peace
One of the most important jobs of the department was to get ready for the peace conference. This was a big meeting that everyone expected to happen after World War I ended. The department prepared detailed reports on many different topics and countries. These reports would help the British leaders make good decisions during the peace talks.
A Similar Department Later On
A similar department was created in 1939, at the start of World War II. It was also called the Political Intelligence Department. This shows how important it was for the government to have good information during times of war and big global changes.
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