Some historians would argue that the real explanation for Eden's resignation lay in Chamberlain's misplaced conduct of foreign policy and his refusal to consult Eden or the Foreign Office. From the moment he became Prime Minister in 1937, Chamberlain started taking a very special interest in foreign policy. He did not hesitate to act independently and to establish who was the master. It appears as if there were no meetings of the Foreign Affairs Committee between 1 July 1937 and January 1938. Sooner or later, some historians argue, Eden was bound to explode. As we know, Eden resigned in February 1938.

Historians have to be careful though not to use hindsight. Just because Eden resigned in February does not mean that it was inevitable, or even predictable, seven weeks earlier. There was obviously tension between the two men but that is hardly new! We can all think of recent examples of politicians of the same party having their disagreements.

Furthermore, it could be argued that Eden's choice of language seems to underplay their differences. For example, Eden writes that he was hesitant and a little troubled. Write your answer to the next question in Notepad 10.