SINN FEIN PLOT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 125, 27 May 1918, Page 5

SINN FEIN PLOT.

STORY UNFOLDED.

INTRIGUE BEGAN IN 1914. ARMS PROM SUBMARINES. CARGOES LOADED AT CUXHAVEN.

RISING TO SYNCHRONISE WITH BLOW IN WEST. ' LONDON", May 2(1. The Press Bureau lia_ issued the following statement regarding the Irish arrests: The revolutionary movement consisted of two series of activities. Tlie first was the German attempt to foment a rebellion, and the second comprised the preparations in Ireland to carry out these attempts. It is possible to give a detailed account of the connection between (lie Sinn Fein lou.lcrs nnd the Germans during tbe period prior to the abortive Kasler rebellion in 1010, but a full statement of tbe subsequent facts in possession of the Government would not lie in the public interest, because it. would reveal the names of those assisting the Government, and also the channels of communication through which the German Government was acting.

The story begins on November (i, 1014, when Herr yon Ziirmicriiinnii, the tben German Foreign Secretary, transmitted through Count yon llernstorff, Herman Ambassador to America, a message from Sir Roger Casement usking that a messenger, if possible a native-born American, should be sent to Ireland with word that everything was favourable. Sir Roger Casement also asked that an Irish priest be sent to Cennany to corrupt the Irish prisoners oj war. Father -lolin Nicholson, tin Irish-bom American, reached Germany and transmitted messages to America in January, 1915. Captain yon Piipen, (iernian military attache in Washington, reported in December, 1014, that verbal assurances sent to Ireland in response to Sir Roger Casement's request had produced an excellent impression.

The plot ripened in the beginning of 1910. Benifttorll'-i dispatch of February 10 included an extract from a report by John Devoy. bead of the Clan-na-daei. Devoy wrote that action in Ireland could not lie postponed much longer, because lie feared the leaders would be arrested. Devoy added that it bad been decided to liegin action on Easter Saturday. He uracil that anus und munitions reach Limerick by that date. Bernstorff, following the usual practice, surreptitiously attached a mite to a message passed by the American Government to Berlin fixing the rising for Easter Saturday, and urging the prompt dispatch of munitions. Herr yon Jagow, German Foreign Secretary, replied on March 4 that arms would !»• landed at Tralee Bay. Bernstorff sent a me.-nge on March 14 that the Irish agreed, ami he wa« sending a messenger to Ireland with full details. Bernstorff bo telegraphed a code fur use between the Hermans and the rebels while the arms were in transit, and explained that a submarine might safely enter Dublin Buy as far as Pigeon llotwe without encountering nets.

THE EASTER RISING. Yon .lagow on April 2li intimated that arms would lie sent ami a special code used nightly. Bernstorff informed Herliu that numerous private wireless receiving stations existed in Ireland. Urgent message"! from America to Berlin on April IS and 1!) fixed the delivery of the arms for the evening of Easter Saturday, pressed for a landing of German troops, and asked that an air raid and a naval attack on the Knglisb coast be arranged. These attacks actually occurred between April _4 ami 20. It was the declared hope of the rebel- and their German ami American friends to blockade tbe Irish porta against England and to establish German submarine bases m Ireland.

The rebellion broke out a day later than the schedule time. The German -upport miscarried, and the revolt ended iv a complete failure. The British llov eminent lias the clearest proof that the Irish Volunteers had been long in com munication with the German authorities, and received money* through IrishAmerican societies.

Soon, after the rising it became clear that tbe Sinn Fein leaders were again asking Germany for help. Berlin sent a message to Washington on June 17 that they were ready to give further help il the Irish would only say what sort ot help was required. Bernstorff, in a dispatch on .lune 10. described the rebellion, and stated that - 1000 had been protided for Sir Roger Casement's defence. Bernstorff, ou July 25, sent a message that the reorganisation of tlie rebelu Has progressing ami that he hud remedied their luck of money. Bernstorll on September S enclosed v memttrundum from the Irish revolution director, resident in America, containing detailed proposals for a fresh rising, contingent on Germany sending an expedition with sufficient military force to cover a landing. Germany was to lis the time. The advantage of submarine and Zeppelin cases in the west of,lreland was mentioned as an inducement.

Bern-toiiV evidently was having ililliculty with his tools.' On October 24 he warned Berlin not to allow Captain Boelim, then living at Rotterdam, to write to Irishmen iv America, because the letters were apt to reach the wrong people. We subsequently arrested I'oelmi in British waters. I'ernstovl"". in a dispatch of December 4. mentioned that the Irish leaders iv America were pressing lor a reply to their proposal ol September S. Zimmerman on December 31 replied, giving the quantities of munitions which it. was proposed to land between February 21 iitul 25, I!H7, adding that it w;us impossible to send troops. BernstorlT replied on January IS that the Irish committee declined the proposal on the ground that a rising would lie useless without German troops. After America's entry into the war communication between the German Government anil the Sinn Fein leaders was temporarily broken oil. Devoy's messenger service between America and Ireland was not affected. " GERMANY'S FRIEND." A clue to t'ne new line was visible iv Ireland in the speeches of the Sinn Fein leaders during this period. De Valera addressing tbe convention of Irish volunteers on October 27, 1017, said he would never advocate another rebellion without hopeful chances of success. Proper organisation would result iv lialf-a-million Irish volunteers, but there was no hope of success except through a German invasion of England and the landing of troops ln Ireland. They should be prepared to leave nothing undone towards that end. De Yalera. in January, 1018, said: "So long as Germany is England's enemy and England

Ireland's enemy, so long will Ireland be Germany's friend." For a considerable time it was difficult to obtain accurate information of the German-Sinn Fein plans, but it was definitely ascertained in April, 1018, that a plan "for tho landing of arms in Ireland was ripe for execution, and the Germans were only awaiting information from Ireland regarding tbe time and place. The British authorities warned the Irish Command regarding the probable landing. An agent from German}', from a submarine, actually landed on April 12 but was arrested. A rising depended largely on the landing of munitions from submarines. Evidence exists that the rising was planned to follow a successful German offensive on the West front.' Britain then presumably be stripped of troops. Documents found in tie Yalera's possession showed he bad worked out in great detail the constitution of bin rebel army, and hoped to muster lialf-a-millioii trained men. There is evidence that German munitions were actually shipped aboard submarines at ("uxbaveu at the beginning of May, and ('orman submarines for some time have been busy round the west coast of Ireland on other errands than the destruction of shipping. Thus it will be seen that negotiations between the Sinn Fein executive aud Germany have been virtually continuous for three and a-half years. A section of Irish-Americans at first was the intermediary for discussions, but since America's entry communication with the enemy tended to lie more direct.

A second rising, planned for 11)17. only broke down because Germany was unable to send troops. The plans for the lillfi rising were maturing in connection with tbe German offensive on the West front A new shipment of arms from Germany was imminent. An important feature of every plan was tlie establishment of submarine buses in Ireland in order to menace the shipping of all nations Under these circumstances no other course was open to the Government, if useless bloodshed were to be avoided and Britain's duty to the Allies fulfilled, but to intern the authors aml abetters of this criminal intrigue.

NATIONALISTS NOT INVOLVED. Speaking at a luncheon at Edinburgh. Mr. Lloyd (leorge said there was no doubt about there having been a conspiracy for a great Irish rising. lie had perused the evidence-. Some of tbe evidence could not be published because it would disclose tbe sources of our information. No taunts would drive him or the Government to publish that portion Tbe members of the Government would have deserved impeachment if they bad shirked action. He added that the Nationalists were not involved in the conspiracy.

It is announced that the interned Irish leaders were given the option of applying to the Home Office Advisory Committee for a revision of tbe internment order, and all refused. (A. and N.Z.)

It is expected that the discussions in the House of Commons next week will reveal fuller details of the Sinn Fein connection witii the German plot. De Valcra bus written to an Irish Bisbop denying the existence of any German plot.—(A. ami N.Z.) WASHINGTON. May 25. Numerous arrests of Sinn Fein supporters are pending in the United States owing to their being implicated in the I lernian plots.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

ARRESTS JUSTIFIED

ENGLISH PRESS VIEW. (Received 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, May 20. The Tress almost unanimously declares that the published evidence 'justified Government action iv Ireland. Some of the papers favour the publication of fuller facts, and a public trial of the ringleaders in order to satisfy Irish public opinion. The "Daily Chronicle" says: If it could be shown that the Sinn Fein lenders really conspired to establish Herman submarine bases on the Irish coast it would produce 11 great revulsion of feeling against the Sinn Fein throughout Ireland.

Tlie "Morning Post" says that it is difficult to understand why tlie Sinn Fein leaders wen- released n'rter tbe ("aster rebellion, and condemns the granting of Home Rule to a population largely controlled by the Sinn Fein.

The "Daily Telegraph" declares that public opinion will demand the ringleaders' trial ami punishment without delay. If the Constitutional Nationalists are sincere iv disowning sympathy with treason they surely will not iiesitate to swell the chorus 'of detestation from Allied countries at the infamous Sinn Fein treaeherv.

The "Daily Express" says that the Government has established a convincing prima facie ease against the Sinn l'Viners, who should be tried publicly il" possible. Ireland would listen to them no more if proved guilty i:i open court but half Ireland will believe them innocent if they are kept interned without trial.- (Renter.)

SINN FEIN TACTICS ALL WRONG.

ARTHUR LYNCH'S VIEW. (Received 10.50 a.m.) LONDON. May 20. Dr. Arthur Lynch, Nationalist M.P. for West Clare, who wits a colonel of the Irish Brigade on tbe Boer side during the South African war, declare, that the Nationalists do not sympathise with proGermanism. I'tidoubtedly the Sinn Fein was actuated by sincere Nationalism but its tactics were all wrong. It was paramountly important for Ireland that the AUK-s should win the war. It would be an eternal disgrace to humanity if Holienztillernisni triumphed, whereas the Allied victory won,A open a now era of liberty, in which Ireland would share He would do his utmost to secure this result.--lA. and N.Z. Cable.)

NATIONALISTS NOT IMPRESSED

PUBLIC TRIAL DEMANDED. (Received 10.55 a.m.) LONDON. May 20. The "Central News" Dublin correspondent says that the Government account of the pro-German plot has failed to impress the Nationalists, who declare that it does not prove Sinn Fein connection with the plot. They demand a public trial.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) The "Irish News" says that Cue Government's allegations regarding Ireland are not supported by evidence. The ' Freeman's Journal" says that the statement is skilfully constructed, but not supported by a tittle of evidence.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)