IRELAND'S PART IN THE STRUGGLE

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13694, 9 October 1916, Page 6

IRELAND'S PART IN THE STRUGGLE

FIERY SPEECH BY MR JOHN REDMOND, NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HOTLY CRITICISED; "CONSCRIPTION WiOULD LEAD. TO BLOODSHED." ("Tim Tinics" Smmi),) • Received October S, 5.5 p.iu. LONDON, October 7.

"Mr John Redmond.addressed a big meeting at Watorford. In the. course of his remarks Mr Redmond said thflt nevei. again would lie enter private negotiations on the Irish question. Anv proposal i'or n sol Moment must be submitted to a convention of representatives .of all Ireland. The rebellion was an insanity and had filtered the whole political conditions. Ireland's magnificent response in the war • ; had earned the gratitude of the whole Empire. Just at. that moment the Dublin rising took place. The real responsibility ■ rested on the British 'Govern 1 ment, whose administration had been marked by colossal ineptitude and stupidity in their attitude tO'lreland since the war commenced. He thought malig- ■ nant irilliii'nces were at" work as ho did not believe the 'Government was insane enough to challenge a conflict; with Irishmen over conscription, the enforcement of which would lend to bloodshed and disaster, and would be resisted in every village in Ireland. The mere threat would paralyse voluntary recruiting'. 1 Nevertheless it would be a disgrace if the Irishmen at the front, were left without the assistance of Irishmen, Mi- Redmond received a great ovation. Referring to the appointment of the Rt. Hon. 11. E, Duke, as Secretary of State for Ireland, j\lr Redmond declared they were now living under a Tory-Unionist Executive. The Irish Party's future altitude to the Government would be one of hostililv, but they would not offer any hindrance to the successful prosecuiion of the war. Six thousand Irish recruits had joined the colours during the past five months. .Mr Lloyd George's settlement scheme was dead beyond hope of resurrection. Nothing would ever induce him (Mr Redmond) to accept a scheme providing for the permanent division of the nation, but lie desired a friendly peaceful settlement with Ulster. Mr Redmond declared that.the conscription demand was a political device to revive bad blood, in the hope that the British people might tolerate, after-the war, the repeal of Home Rule. The real manner to obtain recruits was to soothe the inflamed Irish feeling, withdraw martial law, and treat rebel prisoners politically. The Times, in a leader says: "Mr Redmond's most important statement that voluntary recruiting is not dead in lieland, must be taken in conjunction .■with•■the .declaration of . Ireland s attitude towards the war. The condemnation of conscription is in effect the acceptance of the responsibility for making recruiting successful in Ireland, .where there is a particularly valuable reservoir of men of magnificent fighting qualities.