GERMANY AND THE SINN FEINERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 76, 24 December 1918, Page 6

GERMANY AND THE SINN FEINERS

KAISER'S IRISH HELPERS

HUN INTRIGUE W IRELAND Before the war students of literature sometimes expressed admiration at the "self-sacrifice" of Professor Ivuno Meyer, who was stated to have given up brilliant prospects in his homeland in order to devoto himself to the ancient writings of Ireland, for which he had n deep love. Some slight reward came his way in the shape of the chair of Celtic Literature in the University ol Liverpool. Unfortunately for the reputation of the gentle professor, it has since became known that while holding his honoured position he had "unquestionably been acting as a German secret agent." In the early days' of the war he visited Germany ' with Koger Casement, and endeovoured to cause treason among the Irish prisoners there. In Kcw York he delivered lectures to the Clan-na-Gael, and encouraged the Irish revolutionaries to expect German aid and a German invasion of Ireland.

This is only one instance among many of the use by Germany of every possible channel for causing disaffection in Ireland, or among the Irish in other lands. 'J'liere was no shortage of willing Irish helpers, as "Vigilant" points out in an article 'on "Sinn Fein and Germany" in the Julv number of ihe "Quarterly Tieview." " An earlier article, describing the home and foreign policy of the Sinn Fein movement to iillti, hud given facts and quotations designed to show that from 191)3 Arthur Griffith and. his group had insisted that Irish independence was to be achieved by making British government in Ireland impossible; that three years before the war Koger Casement had formulated a foreign policy for Sinn Fein based upon the imminence of a struggle between Germany and England; that, this was endorsed by Ijernhardi, and widely discussed in 1912 in Germany; and tnat Casement and the Irish revolutionaries, through German and Irish-American subsidised propaganda, hid long urged the Irish to prepare for a German alliance with o view to a victorious Germany ensuring Ireland's independence as a neutralised State, and thus depriving England of the key of the world's sea power.

. the danger to Sinn Fein and to Germany of an Anglo-Saxon alliance was early 6een, and' every effort was made both by the Irish revolutionary leaders and the German elements in' the United States to "provoke, jealousies between England and America, and to embroil, as far as possible the relations between Washington and London." In 1914, before the war, Casement went to America. From him was derived much of the knowledge of the German Foreign Office (as shown in messages to Counj; von Bernstorff, its ambassador in America), regarding sabotage agents in the United States and Canada. One so described was Jeremiah OT.eary, who, in Jurip of the. present year, was indicted with the Bar. oness Maria von Kactsohmanir 'a kinswoman of the German Empress) and five others on charges of treasonable conspiracy. A statement written in IfllG by Casement as to why ho went to Germany is siil widely on sale in Ireland. "T hoped,", he said, "that the, German Government, might be induced to make clear ils peej-e----fnl intention towards Ireland, and thai the effect of a pronounceinct in Ireland itself might, kn powerful enough lo keep Irishmen from yoluntering for a war that had no claim upon their patriotism or their honour. With this aim chiefly in view, I came to Germany in November, 1914, and I sueceded in my purpose. The German Government declared openly its good-will towards Ireland, and in terms." This letter, reprinted from the "Irish Independent" in "Sinn Fein" (Griffith's paper) and other journals, had .1 quick effect in stopping recruiting. From Germany Casement kept up regular communication with the Sinn Fein leaders in America—such as Judge Cohn--11111. Jeremiah O'l/ary. and John Devoy —through the German Foreign Office mid the German Emhassy in America. Dispatches published by the American Government show Hint (he Chin-na-Gncl, which was in touch with the Pen inn Brotherhood, the Irish Volunteers, and tlii* Sinn Fein -executive. was in alliance with the German organisation in America., and thai active arrangements fo -- a rebellion in Trelau'd were undertaken. On Casement's advice, a nriest was sent to em-runt from their allegiance (n Great Urilnin the Irish soldws imprisoned in Germany. The nriest chosen was the frcv. John T. Nicholson, an American (•itiV.on of Trislt birth. With a few exceptions his attempts on (he loyalty of the valian'-. Tr ; sh soldiers failed ignomini"u«ly. Confidential ag°nts were sent to Ireland from America to push the German propaganda, and an immense amount of seditious literature, financed Ivy Germany, was poured into Ireland from the United States.

The German Government accepted Casement's nronosnl for the formation of an Irish brigade "to fight only in the cause of Irish nationality." In certain eircnmst"nces it was to be sent tn Ireland, "'ith Pennon aid, "to res\ov> freedom to Ireland by force, of arms." Tn circumstances it was fo go fo.Brvpt "to render assistance in restoring Egyptian independence." Bernstoru informed Berlin that there were numerous private wireless receiving stations iii. : Trelnml. Dispatches betweeu Germany and its embassy at Washington made arrangements for the Sinn Fein rebellion of Easter, I9IG. Judge Colialan suggested that German aid in this attempt "should consist . principally of aerial attacks on England, and a diversion of. the fleet simultaneously with the Irish revolution.'' As 0. result operaRons were undertaken by the German Fleet against England. On August ?3, 191(5, Count Bernstorff notified Berlin that the Bishop of Cork havin<; died, there was u s!ian> contest over (he siiccessoin. ■ "Assistant-Bishop Colialan,' he said, "Is-cousin to Judge Colialan and strongly Nationalist and pro-German." England, he lidded, 'was using exceptional influence to have another clergyman appointed who was strongly anti-German. "If. would have 11 great moral effect in Home if Colialan were chosen." Germany, according (0 the "Globe," acted on Bernstorff's advice nt'liome. Dr. Daniel Colialan is the present Bishop of Cork. Washington ceased to be a satisfactory base for Sinn Fein treason, but on June IS, 1917, "the Provisional Government of the Irish Bepnblic," which still exists, had the. impertinent.- to communicate irith President Wilson and Congress on its aims. Kuno Meyer and others founded in Berlin the German-Irish Society, with headquarters in the same premises as those used by the official German Press Bureau. Thai directorate included a representative of Krupp's. In its opening address the society's ofticir.l organ, "trische Blatter," greeted the Irish friends of Germany "at home as well as in the United. States,'' and foreshadowed fjirther help, as bv the harbouring of I!-boa Is. '

The writer gives quotations showing the eagerness for .1 new rebellion with Germany's aid, the advice to Trish trade unionists to sever any English connection, fi.-o method of celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Berlin, mid the stand taken by the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, who on April 18, IDiS, proclaimed that the conscription of Ireland was "an oppressive and inhuman law, which Hie/Irish people have a right to resist by all the means that are consonant with the law of God."' "Hut at.(his same time," adds "Vigilant," "the ceaseless watch of the British Navy was saving Ireland, her priests, politicians, and people from the naked militarism of Germany, and from a German invasion plotted by Sinn Fein."

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