Germany and Ireland.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16220, 24 May 1918, Page 6

Germany and Ireland.

Our cable messages indicate that if evidence is produced of the persons arrested in Ireland having been engaged in treasonable conspiracy with Germany, the result will bo a complete break-away of 'the Nationalists from the Sinn Fein Party. This is only what one would naturally expect. Wc do not think it likely that the Imperial Government would have taken such drastic action -without making sure of its ground beforehand. In this connexion it is interesting to rccall the recent activities of a mysterious society in Germany known as the "German-Irish " Society." Not long ago Herr Erzberger, who was one of the three presidents of the Society, resigned, and his place was taken by Baron von Schorlomer, the former Prussian Minister of Agriculture, and it is evident that the Society was regarded as one of somo impprtance. Latterly it has been greatly concerned about the naval importance of Ireland. It sout a telegram to Hindcnburg to the following effect:— ''Filled with the conviction that a free Ireland, independent of England, jvill guarantee the frcedonf of the seas, and thereby tho liberation of the world from English sea tyranny, ' we hope for a strong German peace, which can alone creato real guarantees for Germany and for Ireland." Similar in effect was tho telegram sent by the same Society to Count Hcrtling "Tho independence of Ireland is tho real guarantee lor the freedom of tho seas frpm the Anglo-Saxon yoke—tho freedom which is longed for unanimously not only by tije •whole German people, but by all peoples." What Germany means by tho freedom of the - seas wo know perfectly well —it means that while she is to continue to do what she likes with her armies on land in time of war, the English Fleet is to be prevented from waging the war effectively at sea. If Ireland ever became independent of Great Britain, Germany would not rest until she had the island under her own complete control. The possession of Ireland," coupled with that of tho Channel ports, -would certainly place Germany in a commanding position for attacking the naval supremacy of Great Britain.