THE IRISH SITUATION

Taihape Daily Times, 27 May 1918, Page 4

THE IRISH SITUATION

THE IRISH PLOT.'; . BRITISH GOVERNMENT ’S . ‘ TIMELY DISCOVERIES. LONDON, May 24.1^ The Press Bureau has issued the following statement regarding the Irish arrests: The revolutionary movement consisted of two series of activities. The first was a German attempt to foment a re-union; 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 the subsequent facts in the Government’s possession, would not be in the public Interest, because it would reveal the names of those assisting 4 the Government, also tlxe> channels of communication' through which the, German trovernment. was acting. The story begins on November 6, 1914, when Herr Zimmerman transmitted through Count Bernstorff a message from the late Sir Roger Casement asking that a messenger —i£ possible, a* native-born American—be sent to Ireland with word thatVeverything was favourable. Casement 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 requests, produced an excellent impression, and the plot ripened at the beginning of 1916. Bernstorff’s despatch of February 10th included an extract from the report of John Devoy, head of the Clan Gael. Dovoy 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 reach Limerick by that date. Bernstorff following the usual practice, surreptitiously attached a note to the message passed by the American Government to B'erlin, fixing the, rising for Easter Saturday, and urging the prompt despatch of munitions. Von Jagow replied on March 4th that arms would be landed in Tralee Bernstorff sent a message on March 14fh that the Irish agreed, and he was sending a messenger to Ireland with details. Bernstorff also telegraphed a code for use between the Germans and the rebels, while the arms were in transit, and explained that'' a, submarine might safely enter Dublin Bay as far as Pigeon House, without encountering nets. Von Jagow, on April 26th, intimated that arms would be sent, and a special code was used nightly as an introduction to the German Wireless Press service. Bernstorff informed Berlin that numerous

private wireless receiving stations existed in Ireland. Urgent messages from America to Berlin on April ISth and 19th fixed the delivery of arms for the evening of Easter Saturday, pressed for the landing of German troops, and asked that an air raid and a naval •attack on the English coast be arranged. These attacks iactually occurred between the 24th and 26th. It was declared that the hope of the rebels and their German and American friends vras to blockade Irish ports against England,, and establish German submarine bases in Ireland. The rebellion broke out a day later than the schedule time, German support miscarried, and the revolt ended in complete failure. The British Government has the clearest that Irish Volunteers had been long in communication with the German authorities, and received money through IrishAmftrican societies. Soon after the rising it became clear that the Sinn Fein leaders w ere again asking Germany for help. Berlin sent a message to Washington on June 17th that they were ready to give further help if fhe Irish would only say what sort of help was required. Bernstorif, in a despatch on June 16th, described the rebellion. He stated that £I,OOO had been provided for Casement’s defence. B'ernstorff on July 25th sent a messago that reorganisation of the rebels was progressing and that he'had remedied their lack of money. Bernstorff on September Bth enclosed a memorandum from the Irish Revolution Director, resident in America, containing detailed proposals for a fresh rising, contingent on Germany sending an expedition with sufficient military force to cover a landing. was to fix the time. • The advantage of submarine and Zeppelin bases in the V est of Ireland was mentioned as an inducement. Bernstorif evidently was having difficult}' with his tools. On October 24th ho warned Berlin not to allow Ca'ptain B'oehm, then living at 'Rotterdam, to write to Irishmen in America, because letters were,, apt to reach the wrong pcoplie.We I Y arrested Boehm in British Bernstorff, in a despatch on December 4th. mentioned that the Irish leaders

t jn' America were pressing for a reply to their proposal of September Zimmerman, on December 31st, replied, giving the quantities of munitions which it was proposed to Ijand. between February 21st and 25th, 1917, adding that it would be impossible to send troops. Bernstorff replied on January 18th that the Irish Committee declined the proposal! on the ground that the rising would be useless without German troops. After America’s entry, communication between the German Government and I Sinn Fein leaders was temporarily broken off. Devoy’s messenger service between America and Ireland was not affected. A clue to to the new line was visible in Ireland in speeches by Sinn Fein leaders during this period. . DE VALERA’S TREACHERY. . o' De Valera (M.P.), addressing a Convention of Irish Volunteers on October 2t.7h, 1917, said he would never advocate another rebellion without hopeful chances of success. Proper organisation would result in half a million Irish volunteers, but there were no hope of success except through a German invasion of England, and the landing of troops in Ireland. They should be prepared to leave nothing undone towards ihat end. De Valera in January, 1918, said that so long as Germany was England’s enemy, so Mfcg would Ireland he Germany’s friend. For a considerable time it was difficult to obtain accurate information of the German-Sinn Fein plans, . but it was definitely ascertained in April, 1918, that a plan for the landing of arms in Ireland was ripe for execution, and the Germans were only awaiiing information from Ireland regarding the time and place. The British authorities warned the Irish command regarding a probable landing. An agent from Germany, from a submarine, actually landed on April 12th, but was arrested. The rising depended largely on the landing of munitions from submarines. Evidence exist* that the rising w r as planned to follow a successful German offensive 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 a constitution for his rebel army, and hoped to muster half a million trained men. There is evi-

dence that German ‘munitions -were actually shipped aboard submarines at -- Cuxhaven at the beginning of May, *md German submarines for some trae had been busy round the west coast of Ireland on other errands than the destruction of shipping. Thus, ? it will be seen, negotiations' between the Sinn Fein Executive and Ge'rmany have‘been- virtually continuous for? three, and a-half years. A section of • Irish-Americans at first was the intermediary for discussions, but since Am-, erica’s entry communications witlT the enemy tended to be more direct. The second rising, planned for 1917, only broke down because Germany was unable to send troops. Plans for a 1918 rising were maturing in connection with the German offensive on the West front. A new shipment of arms from Germany was imminent. An important feature of the enemy plan was the establishment of submarine bases in Ireland, in order to menace the shipping of all nations. Under these circumstances, ho other course was open to the Government, if useless bloodshed was to Ue~ avoided and our duty to the Allies fulfilled, but to intern the authors and abettors of this criminal intrigue. • PRC GERMAN PLOTS. AMSTERDAM, May 24. German newspapers are eagerly discussing the possibilities of a pro-Ger-in Ireland. Tbe “Hamburger Nachrichten” says; “Irish hopes must be founded on the victory of the German Empire. Ireland knows well that British victory would make her fate more terrib’e than ever.” The “Kcelmsche Volks Zeitung” says: “Tlie British Imperialistic idea is to cause antagonism between Ireland and England. When the day of Irish liberation comes, Irishmen will have to* thank German soldiers/ ; THE SINN FEIN PLOT. DENIED BY DE VALERA. Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, May 26. It is expected discussions in the House of Commons next week will reveal fuller details of the plot. De Valera has writeen to an Irish bishop denying the existence of any German plot. NATIONALISTS NOT IMPRESSED. WITH EVIDENCE OP PLOT. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, May 26. The Central News’ Dublin correspondent says the Government ac. count of the pro-German plot has faf!to impress Nationalists, who de-;-<OTTe it does not prove Sinn Fein connection with the plot They demand a public trial.

PRESS ALMOST UNANIMOUS Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, May 26. The Press almost unanimously declares the published evidence justified Government action in Ireland. Some papers favour the publication of fuller ■reports and a public trial of the ringleaders in order to satisfy Irish public opinion. The Daily Chronicle says; If it could be shown Sinn Feiners really conspired to establish German submarine bases on the Irish coast it : would produce a great revolution of feeling against the Sinn Fein throughout Ireland.

The Morning Post says it is difficult to understand why the Sinn Fein leaders were released after the Easter rebellion, and condemns granting Home Rule to a population largely controlled by Sinn Feiners. The Daily Telegraph declares public opinion will demand the ringleaders’ trial and punishment without delay. If the constitutional Nationalists are sincere in disowning sympathy with treason, they surely will not hesitate to swell the chorus of detestation from Allied countries at the infamous Sinn Fein treachery. The Daily Express says the Government has established a convincing prima facie case against the Sinn Feiners, who should be tried publicly. It is possible Ireland will listen to them no more if proved guilty in an open court, but half of Ireland will believe them innocent if kept interned without trial. SPEECH BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE. LONDON, May 20. 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. He had perused the evidence. Some of the evidence could not he 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, NEW YORK,, May 25. Numerous Sinn- Fein arrests are pending in the United States owing to suspected, persons being implicated in German plots, ' V,v rmu

STATEMENT BY M.P. ' ■ iO if.’ Received 10.50 a.m, • LONDON, May 26. Mr. Arthur Lynch, a Commoner, detlje Nationalists do not sympathise with pro-Germanism. Undoubtedly the Sinn Feins were actuated by sincere nationalism, but its tactics are all wrong. It was paramountly important for Ireland, that the Allies should win the war. ,It would be an eternal disgrace to humanity IT Hohenzollernism triumphed, whereas an,.Allied victory would open a new era of liberty wherein Ireland would share. He would do Ms utmost to secure this result.