THE IRISH REBELLION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 9 May 1916, Page 5

THE IRISH REBELLION.

THE DEATH SENTENCE. STATEMENTS IN THE COMMONS. EXECUTIONS CAUSE BITTERNESS AMONC THE PEOPLE. AUTHORITIES INCLINED TO CLEMENCY. [Unttut) Pr*s» A««OOtATTON.I (Received 10.25 a.m.) London, May 8. In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith said steps were being taken to ascertain what Government's officials were implicated in the Irish outJbreak. The Government is considering the form of tribunal by which to 'try the rank and file of the rebels. I Mr J. Redmond asked whether Mr jAsquith was aware of the continuiance of the executions, which were causing rapidly increasing bitterness and exasperation amongst a large section of the population who had not the slightest sympathy with the insurrection, and whether, following General Botha's precedent in South Africa, he would immediately stop the executions.

Mr Asquith replied that Mr Redmond had from the first urged on the Government—and his arguments had ; fallen on willing ears—the importance of clemency to the rank and file. General Maxwell had been in direct : personal communication with the Cabinet, and the latter had great confidence that he would exorcise his discretion regarding the death penalty, which would be used as sparingly as possible, an donly in cases of those guilty in the first degree. No one was more anxious than General Maxwell and himself that the death cases should be confined to the narrowest limits and should cease at the earliest possible moment.