ROGER CASEMENT

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 3012, 5 August 1916, Page 3

ROGER CASEMENT

STATEMENT OF THE CASE FOR BRITAIN. "TREACHERY OF THE WORST KIND." "UNDOUBTEDLY GUILTY," SAYS NEW YORK POST.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT] [Australian-N.Z. Cable Association.] London, August 3. The Press Bureau, in a statement on the execution of Roger Casement, says:— The Government, before deciding not to interfere with Casement's sentence, carefully and repeatedly considered all the circumstances. Casement was convicted of treachery of the worst kind to tho Empire. As a willing agent of Germany, he had brought about the Irish rebellion, which had resulted in much loss of life among soldiers and civilians. Casement had invoked and organised German assistance. Although for years ho had been a British official, Casement entered into an explicit agreement with Germany that his Irish Brigade should be employed in Egypt against the British. Those Irish prisoners of war interned in Germany who resisted Casement's solicitations of disloyalty were subjected to exceptionally cruel treatment by tlie Germans. Some of the men who had since been exchanged, a.s invalids, had died in Britain. Regarding the claim tbat Casement had left Germany for the purpose of stopping the Irjsh rising, this point had not been raised at the trial; but it had been conclusively 'disproved, not only by the facts disclosed at the trial, but by further evidence since available. Another suggestion, that Casement was insane, was equally without foundation. Counsel did not raise the plea, and Casement's demeanour since his arrest, throughout his trial, and since, had given no ground for any such defence. Indeed, his conduct wa.s sufficient to disprove tbe claim. New York, August 3. The Evening Post states that Roger Casement was undoubtedly guilty, ■and his execution was lawful. (Received August 5, 9.30 a.m.) New York, August 4. The AVorld newspaper says: Now that tbe Dublin rebels have been shot and Roger Casement hanged, conciliation in Ireland is further away than ever. Tho Tribune says: Roger Casement's guilt was such that no Government and no people could pardon him ■without destroying the whole fabric of national duty. There was never the slightest excuse for any attempt at American interference. Casement deserved- his death.