IRELAND AND CONSCRIPTION

New Zealand Tablet, 12 October 1916, Page 31

IRELAND AND CONSCRIPTION

SPEECH BY MR. REDMOND. THE FATAL RISING. The following cables were published in the Dunedin dailies of October 7 and 8 ; London, October 6. Mr. Redmond, speaking at Waterford, said that never again would he entej into private negotiations on the Irish question. Any proposal for settlement must be submitted to a convention of representatives of all Ireland. The rebellion was an act of insanity, and had altered the whole political conditions. Ireland’s magnificent, response to the war had earned the gratitude of the whole Empire, and just at that moment the Dublin rising took place. The real re-

sponsibility rested with the British Government, which had been marked by colossal ineptitude and stupidity in its attitude to Ireland since the war commenced. Though malignant influences were at work, he did not believe that the Government was insane enough to challenge a conflict with Irishmen over conscription. The enforcement of it would lead to bloodshed and disaster. It would be resisted in every village in Ireland. The mere threat of it would paralyse voluntary recruiting. Nevertheless, it would be a disgrace if the Irishmen at the front were left without the assistance of Irishmen. , THE FUTURE. London, October 7. Mr. Redmond had a great ovation. Referring to the appointment of Mr. Duke as Irish Secretary and Mr. Campbell as Solicitor-General for Ireland, he declared that we were now living under a Tory Unionist Executive. The Irish party’s future attitude to the Government must be one of hostility, but it would not offer any hindrance to the successful prosecution of the war. Six thousand Irish recruits had joined the colors during the past five months. Mr. Lloyd’s George’s settlement scheme was dead beyond hope of resurrection. Nothing would ever induce Mr. Redmond to accept any scheme providing a permanent division of the nation, but he desired a friendly and peaceful settlement with Ulster. THE TIM VIEW. ’ London, October 7. Mr. Redmond said that the conscription demand was a political device to revive bad blood in the hope that the British people might tolerate after the war a repeal of the Home Rule Bill. The real manner in which to obtain recruits was to soothe the inflamed Irish feelings, withdraw martial law, and treat the rebel prisoners politically. In a leading article the Times says that Mr. Redmond’s most important statement is that voluntary recruiting is not dead in Ireland. Taken in conjunction with his declaration of Ireland’s attitude to the war and his condemnation of conscription it is, in effect, an acceptance of responsibility for making recruiting successful. Ireland is a particularly valuable reservoir, owing to the magnificent fighting qualities of her men.