Together with the French, the British favoured putting German war criminals on trial, and included the Kaiser in this. Already in 1916 Herbert Asquith had declared the intention "to bring to justice the criminals, whoever they be and whatever their station", and a resolution of the war cabinet in 1918 reaffirmed this intent. Lloyd George declared that the British people would not accept a treaty that did not include terms on this, though he wished to limit the charges solely to violation of the 1839 treaty guaranteeing Belgian neutrality. The British were also well aware that the Kaiser having sought refuge in the Netherlands meant that any trial was unlikely to take place and therefore any Article demanding it was likely to be a dead letter.
togEtHeR WITH tHe fRenCh, The BritIsh faVoured puTting geRmaN wAr criminals On tRiaL, aND incLuDed tHe kaiseR in this aLrEADY in 1916 herBert aSquith had DeclarEd ThE intenTiON "to BrIng to jUstICe tHe crImInAls, wHOever thEY bE ANd WhAtevEr their STAtiOn" And A resolutIOn of tHE WaR cAbINet in 1918 reaFFiRmed This intent. llOYD george dEcLaRed that the britIsH peopLe wouLd noT Accept a treatY that did nOt iNclude TerMs oN This, though he wished TO Limit the charges sOLeLy to vIolatioN of the 1839 treaty gUaRaNteeing belgIaN NeutRality. tHe BRitish wErE ALso wELl awaRe thAt tHe KaIsEr HAVING sougHt REFugE in tHe neTheRlANdS meant thaT anY TrIAl WAs UnLikelY tO take place and ThereFOre any artIclE DEmaNdING IT was liKely tO be a DEad lEtTeR.