THE IRISH PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17325, 27 May 1918, Page 5

THE IRISH PROBLEM

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. NO DOUBT ABOUT CONSPIRACY. NATIONALISTS NOT INVOLVED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. LONDON, May 24. (Received May 26, at 5.5 p.m.) Speaking at a luncheon at Edinburgh, Mr Lloyd George said there was no doubt about there having been a conspiracy for a great Irish rising, lie had perused the evidftiic'j. Some of the evidence could not be published, because it would disclose the sources of our information. No taunts would drive him or the Government to publish that portion. The Government would have deserved impeachment if it had shirked action. He added that the Nationalists were not involved in the conspiracy. INTERNED PRISONERS. PREFER " MARTYRDOM. - ' LONDON, May 24. It is announoed tliat the Irish deportees were given the option of applying to the Home Oliice Advisory Committee for a revision of their internment order, but all refused. GERMAN OPINION. A PRESS DISCUSSION. AMSTERDAM, May 24. The German newspapers are eagerly discussing the possibilities of a pro-German plot in Ireland. The Hamburger Naclirichten says: " Irish hopes must be founded on the victory of the German Empire. Ireland knows well that a British victory would make her fate more terrible than ever." The Kolnische Volks Zeitung says : "Tho British Imperialistic idea is the cause of the antagonism between Ireland and England. When the day of Irish liberation comes Irishmen will have to thank German soldiers." ARRESTS PENDING IN AMERICA. IMPLICATED IN GERMAN PLOTS. NEW YORK. May 25. (Received May 26, at 5.5 p.m.) Numerous Sinn Fein arrests are pending in the United States owing to suspected persons being implicated in German plots. LONDON, May 24. (Received May 26. at 5.5 p.m.) The Press Bureau has issued a statement rearding the Irish arrests. It sets forth that the revolutionary movement consisted of two series of activities. The first was a German attempt to foment rebellion ; the second comprised preparations in Ireland to carry out these attempts. It is possible to give a detailed account of the connection between the Sinn Fein leaders and the Germans during the period prior to_ the abortive Easter rebellion in 1916, but a full statement of subsequent facts in the Government's possession would not be 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 is acting. The story begins on the 6th November, 1914, when Herr Zimmermann transmitted through Bernstorff a message from Casement, asking that a messenger, if possible a native-born American, be sent to Ireland with word that everything was favourable. Gasement also asked that an Irish priest be sent to Germany to corrupt the Irish war prisoners. Father John Nicholson, an Irish-born American, reached Germany and transmitted messages, to America in January, 1915. Von "Papen reported in December, 1914, that verbal assurances sent to Ireland in response to Casement's request had produced an excellent impression. • THE PLOT RIPENED in the beginning of 1916. Bernstorff s despatches of the 10th of February included an extract from the report of John Devoy, head of the Clan Gael. Devoy wrote that action in Ireland could not be postponed much longer, because he feared the leaders would be arrested. Devoy added that it had been decided to begin action on Easter Saturday. He urged that arms and munitions should reach Limerick by .hat date Bernstorff, following his usual practice, surreptitiously attached a note to the message passed by the American Government to Berlin, fixing the rising for Easter Saturday and urging the prompt despatch of munitions. Von Jagow replied on the 4th of March that arms would be landed at Tralee Bay, Bernstorff sent a message on the 14th of March that the Irish had agreed, and lie was sending a messenger to Ireland with full details. Bernstorff also telegraphed a code for use between the Germans and the rebels while arms were in transit, and explained that a submarine might safely, enter Duhlin Bay as far as the pigeon house without encountering nets. Von Jagow on the 26th of April intimated that arms would be sent and special code word used nightly. On the introduction of the German wireless press service Bernstorff informed Berlin that numerous private wireless receiving stations existed in Ireland. Urgent messages from America to Berlin on . the 18th and 19th of April fixed the delivery of arms for the evening of Easter Saturday. He pressed for a landing of German troops, and asked that an air raid and naval attack on the English coast be arranged. These attacks actually occurred between the 24th and 26th of April. It was the declared hope of the rebels and their German-American friends to blockade the Irish ports against England and establish German submarine bases in Ireland. The rebellion broke out a day Later than schedule. The German support miscarried, and the revolt ended in complete failure. The British Government has THE CLEAREST PROOF

that the Irkh volunteers have been long in communication with the German authorities, and have received money through Irish-American societies. Soon'after the rising it became clear tint the Sinn Fein loaders were again asking Germany for help. Berlin sent a message to Washington on the 17th of June that they were ready to give further help if the Irish would only say what sort of help was required. Bernstorff in a despatch on the 16th of June described the rebellion and stated that £ICOO had been provided for Casement's defence. Bern6torff on the 25th of July sent a message that the reorganisation of the rebels was progressing, and that he had remodied their lack of money. Bernstorff on the Bth of September enclosed a memorandum from the Irish revolution director, who was 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 fix the time. The advantage of submarine and Zepnelin bases in West Ireland was mentioned as an inducement. Bernstorff evidently was having difficulty with his tools. On the 24th of October he warned Berlin not to allow Captain Boehm. then living at Rotterdam, to write to Irishmen in America, because letters were apt to reach the wrong people. We subsequently arrested Boehm in British water?. Bernstorff, in n despatch on the 4th ■December, mentioned that, the Irish leaders in Amcrica were pressing for a reply to t.heir proposal of the Bth September. Zimniernvinn, on the 31rt December. replied, giving the quantities of munitions which it was proposed to land betwen the 2Ht and 25th February, 1917 adding : It is ' * ' ' IMPOSSIBLE TO SEND TROOPS. BerrttovfT replied on the 18th .Tanuarv that the. Trish Committee declined the proposal, on the ground that tho rising would be useless without German troops.

After America's entry into the war, the <1 communication between the German ' Government and the Sinn Fein- leaders W3# . temporarily broken off. Devoy'6 messenger j service between America and Ireland was, ; however, not affected, and a clue to & new line was visible in Ireland in speeches / bv Sinn Fein leaders during this period, De Valera, addressing the convention of Irish volunteers on the 27th October, 1917, /: said he would never advocate another rebellion without hopeful chances of success. Proper organisation would result in half a million Irish volunteers being raised, but there was no hope of success except through a GERMAN INVASION OF ENGLAND and the landing of troops in Ireland. Thoy should be prepared to leave nothing uiir done towards that end. De Valera, in January, 1918, said that so long as (iermany was England's enemy ana ling land was Ireland's enemy, so long would Ireland be Germany's friend. For a considerable time it was difficult to obtain accurate information of the German-Bint 1 ein plans, but it was definitely ascer< tamed in April, 1918, that a plan tor landing arms in Ireland was ripe for execu-' tion, and the Germans were only awaiting information from Ireland regarding titne and place. The British authorities warned the Irish Command regarding the probable landing. An agent from Germany from a submarine actually landed on tile 12tS April, but was arrested. The rising was dependent largely on the landing of munitions by submarines. Evidence exists that the rising wag ' planned to follow a successful German • oti'enaive on the west front. Britain would then presumably be stripped of troops. Documents found in De Valera's possession showed that he had worked out in great detail the constitution of his rebel army, and hoped to muster half a million trained men. There is evidence that German munitions were actually shipped aboard a submarine at Guxhaven at the beginning of May, and German submarines for some time have been busy round the west coast of Ireland on other errands—that of the destruction of shipping. Thus it will be seen that negotiations between the Sinn Fein executive and Germany have been virtually continuous' for three and arhalf years. A section of the Irish-Americans at first was intermediary in the discussions, but since entry communications with the enemy tended to be more direct. The second rising, planned for 1917, only broke down ' because Germany -was unable to send" troops. The plans for the 1918 rising were* maturing in connection with the German offensive on the west front. A new ship- • ment of arms from Germany was imminent. . , • An important feature of every plan was the establishment of submarine bases in Ireland in order to menace the shipping ■ of all nations. Under the circumstances no other course was open to the Government, if useless bloodshed were to be avoided and Britain's duty to her Allies fulfilled, but to intern the authors and abettors of this criminal intrigue. •_ ■