IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1916, Page 5

IRELAND.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION. M. BIRRELL'S STATEMENT. . • London, May 10, evidence before the Royal Commission, Mr. Birrell, late Chief Secretary for Ireland, said lie did not desire to add to or modify Sir Matthew Xathan's statement. He read his own statement. He remarked that the folly of the Sinn Feinists had led many bravo fellows to their doom in the belief that any revolution was better than none. If at the outbreak of the war Home (Rule had not been placed on the Statute Hook there would have been a revolt. He contended that the gun-running in Ulster, the Orange Covenant and the Provisional Government, with all the pomp and circumstnnce of rebellion, "had produced a prejudicial effect on disloyalists everywhere. There" was a spirit abroad that what others were allowed to do they could do.

Ireland, through Mr. Redmond's patriotism, had preserved in war time an unbroken front, but many did not agree with Mr. Redmond's attitude. It was impossible to over-estimate the effect that Sir Edward Carson's entering the Cabinet produced on the minds of the people. Had Mr. Eedmond entered the Cabinet he could not have remained the leader of the -Nationalists. No doubt German assistance was at the ibottom of the rebellion. The war had turned many heads and upset all prudent calculations.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to "Lord Hardingc, he said that he had realised for the past two years that there was a dangerous movement. He had evidence that disarmament would have been a dangerous policy. Mr. Redmond stated in the House of Commons that the Sinn Feiners were negligible. I did not attach much importance to his opinion in that matter, because I was quite sure they were dangerous. Mr. Dillon also strongly favored non-intervention. We had daily reports from the Constabulary in all parts enabling us to form a correct opinion.

I always felt ignorant and nervous about what was occurring in the cellars of 'Dublin. Towards the middle of April I heard that the Castle would be attacked. I had conferred with Lords Kitchener and French on March 20 and 27, urging them to send more soldiers to Dublin, believing that if paraded with bands and bayonets they would have a good effect. They were busy training men, and unaible to spare any, but in the event of trouble could have moved troops from Liverpool quickly. Lord Wimborne's view was as strong as mine, and was submitted to the military authorities. . Although unable to reside in Ireland, except at Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide, and for a short time in su.mmer, I have visited more parts of Ireland than any of my predecessors. Events have shown that the Irish Government had not'sufficiently provided for the criminal investigation department.

The revolution was doomed to failure, but if there had been a German invasion the whole population might have, risen for or against us. There was no effort at general disarmament because 11 it was considered dangerous.

Justice Sir Montagu Shearman; Meanwhile the Germans might have landed. Why wasn't overt driling suppressed? "Mr. Birrell: We thought it difficult to prove .association with the enemy. It would have required soldiers, and bloodshed would have resulted in the west, north, and south-east. The policy of non-intervention in the case "of Ulster was the Cabinet's decision. It was not so in the case of the Sinn Feiners. The inquiry was adjourned until Monday. ANTI-BRITISH HATRED. POWER OF PRIESTS. Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. London, May lfl. Mr. Birrell remarked that anti-British hatred and distrust were always noticeable at all places and amongst all classes in a varying degree, but it. was e'-cr present as a background to Irish polities'. The character of this feeling was hard to define but easy to discern, though it was incapaible of texaqt measurement. Mr. Birrell excused ln» continued absence from Dublin as being due to the necessity of attending Cabinet, when deliberating on Ireland. He was astonished at the court saying n jackdaw or magpie could have done as well, but. he admitted that he ought to have ui<ed his powers to stop the landing of arms. The moment of greatest risk was on the outbreak of war, when "it might have been necessary to mobilise 60,000 soldiers to keep down Ireland, but Mr. Redmond's speech averted danger. Questioned whether lie had special warnings of the trouble, Mr. Birrell said: The constabulary reports enable us 'to form o, correct' estimate of each locality and these vary much according to the character of the priests. If the priasts aie anti-Sinn Feiners, Sinn Feinism dies out. Tf the cier?y foster Sinn Feinism it is promoted and extended. He did not care to say how many turbulent priests there were, but there were a considerable' number.

GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND. IRISH CAIIINET FORESHADOWED. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. .London, May 20. Advices from Ireland suggest that Mr. Asquith is discussing the formation of an Executive Council, with wide administrative powers sitting in Dublin as an Irish Cabinet, but not possessing powers to enact legislation or iiilpose new taxation. The opinion of the Irish. leaders will be sought before Tuesday ULSTERMEN STUBBORN. HOPES FOR A SETTLEMENT. Received May 21, 11.20 pjn. London, May 21JMr. Asquith visited the King and gave nn account of his Irish mission. T.onl Wimborne is coming to London, .understood, that his resignation *,u i . n't been accepted. N rue .wniKiu'ster Guardian says that Mr. Asquith has found the UUtermen stubborn, but he hopes they will oooporato to btiai Aboui * mimamt.