"Lloyd George once spoke of a very powerful combination in its way perhaps the most powerful in the country. Its proceedings were invariably conducted at Cliveden, the country estate of the fabulously wealthy Nancy and Waldorf Astor. Collectively dubbed God's Truth Ltd, the group included leading politicians, academics, writers and newspaper editors. Its pedigree impeccable, its social standing beyond reproach, its persuasive powers permeated the clubs and institutions of London, the senior common rooms of Oxbridge colleges, the quality press and the great country houses of England. Suddenly, in the late 1930's the Cliveden Set was catapulted into uncalled for notoriety. It had been identified as a cabal that sought to manipulate, even determine, British foreign policy in order to uphold its narrow class interests. It would use any means, however devious, even negotiate a humiliating, dishonourable settlement with Nazi Germany to maintain its privileges, those of a decaying ruling class. But was the Cliveden Set a traitorous cabal, challenging the constitutional structures of British democracy or simply an unstructured think tank of harmless do gooders? "