>> Lord Kenneth Morgan: It is remarkable testimony to the
illiberal atmosphere the First World War generated
in this country the people accepted secure
far-reaching legislation
>> Nick Robinson: at the outbreak of the First World War the government is worried about
sensitive information being leaked to the enemy
so on the 8th of August 1914
the defence of the realm act or DORA for short
is passed through Parliament without debate barely more than a paragraph long
it gives the government wide-ranging powers it sees is essential to
conducting the war effort
it will go on improved to be a catalyst that accelerates key social changes in
Britain
>> Lord Kenneth Morgan: Well DORA covered everything that was supposed to assist in the
winning of the war rather famously you to also included
people's daily lives whether they were
in some way assisting the enemy it might be by
of course distributing pro-german propaganda
it also included things like whistling in the street and having bonfires in
your garden
and it covered very importantly drink and also drugs it left a great
legacy and was a very fundamental sweeping measure
>> Tristram Hunt: I think the defense of the Realm Act and the swiftness
of its passing is a remarkable moment
in Parliament but I do now think with the greater role of
judicial review the greater role of of Europe
all sorts of barriers which exists now to that kinda swift legislation
there be a a great hesitancy
about passing such a piece of legislation
>> Nick Robinson: DORA is a simple act insuring anyone caught spying or spreading rumors
can be tried by military courts it also puts docks
ports and communication systems under the control of the military
the Act was amended six times over the course of the war in slowly extended
its reach
to all areas of British life
>>Lord Kenneth Morgan: Some of the measures were very extreme ones which
to be fair reflected the fact that nobody you knew quite what a total war
would be like it was a war to be fought if you like by the entire population
not simply by people in the armed services
and it is a remarkable testimony to the
you might see the illiberal atmosphere the First World War generated
in this country the people went along with accepted secure
far-reaching legislation
>>Nick Robinson: One of the key amendments to DORA was made by Lloyd George the Chancellor of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer
back in March 1915 it allowed the government to take over factories to
produce munitions
led to a massive increase in Britain's war output
this was the start a truly industrialized war
the concentration of workers into urban areas would lead to social upheaval
and changes in British life that went far beyond
increasing the ability to wage war >> Tristram Hunt: I think if you look good
DORA as a piece of legislation then if you look
the remarkable presidential power which Lord George
enjoyed as prime minister combine those together and that provides the sort of
infrastructure
which allow for the future social changes >> Lord Kenneth Morgan: Its positive side I think
also the drew attention too many over the
social aspects of society in Britain
at that particular time for example in relation to the conditions of industrial
workers and it did encourage a
activity in collaboration with the trade unions which meant in many ways the
First World War was rather a good period for industrial workers the wages went up
their conditions work improved and so on
did of course reflect the fact that women were being
introduced and in the longer term therefore the
status of women and conditions of work were
positive results emerged from DORA
so it is I think great paradox to the carnage
horror all the First World War and the attack so
on civil liberties nevertheless in an indirect way
had beneficial results >>Nick Robinson: The legacy
the defense to the realm act is as complex as the original legislation was
simple
on the one DORA helped Britain win the war by allowing a massive increase
in industrial production on the other hand it heralded a new era
of censorship of the press prohibition and the widening
of police powers
>> Tristram Hunt: To scrutinize some of this legislation when it's being demanded
at a time of national emergency at a time wartime
is often rather sparse, meanwhile
there'll be lots of civil servants ministers using this moment
to put through a pieces of legislation rules that they
long had their eye on, and so they always say around here that when the parties agree
to pass a piece of legislation together that's when you should begin to be
worried
>>Nick Robinson: For more information about Parliament
and the First World War go
www.Parliament.uk/ww1