The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-10-17

-, -, ;, 'st =, ~
QUESTION OF THE HOUR FOR
IRISH VOLUNTEERS
(From the Irish Volunteer, Sept. 1917
care you prepared to cooperate
with the British Army in defending
the British Empire against its enc
mies?" l.:
That is the question Of the hour
for the Irish Volunteers. There is
no escaping it. 1t must be answered
one way or the other, sooner or later.
now or when the Home Rule bill is
passed. Each man in the Volunteer
ranks must answer it for himself by
the dictates of his own National con-
science, according to what he be-
believes to be Nationalist principles
and Ireland's interest. There can be
no middle course, as is becoming
more and more evident day by day.
Either we are willing to cooperate
with the British army, or we are not.
Either we are willing to fight for
the British Empire, to join hands
with the people of England in the
Empires defence, or we are not.
Whether we fight abroad or at home
does not matter. We must give the
straight answer to the straight ques-
ton. Circumstances demand. this
There can be no hesitation, no res
ervation, no qualification. 1t must
be 'yes' or mo" answer now.
Cooperation with the British
army means at least three things.
1. That the Irish Volunteers come
under the control of Lord Kitchener
and the English War Office.
2. That an oath of allegiance to
King George be taken by each Vol
unteer. 5se
3. That the flag to defend be the
British Union Jack, and that the
training and the equipment be &C
cording to the War Office regula-
tions. -.
| Obedience being the first duty OF
a soldier, Irish volunteers co-operat-
ing with the British army, and under
War Office control, must, as loyal
soldiers of the Empire, serve, If ord
cred to do so, in any part of the
world against any people at war with
the Empire. If used only for home
defence, they must, if ordered, shoot
down any Irishmen who may be con
sidered enemies of the Empire.
To the suggestion of cooperation
with the British army there are two
alternatives that may be adopted by
Irish volunteers, and the adoption Of
which would place them under Irisf
control alone as opposed to English
control:
1. If Home Rule is passed, and al
Irish Executive Government called
into being Immediately, that Execu
tive Government could take over con
troll of the Volunteers. To do this
? however, in accordance with Englisl
law, a short measure must be passet
through the English Parliament Civ
, ing the Irish Executive power t
raise an armed force for the defenc'
of Ireland. The present Home Rul
Bill withholds such power from tn
Irish Executive. OF course, an 1risl
! Executive may take the power Of con
troll into it's own hands without lega
formalities, as the Volunteers them
,, selves have been organized in def
: ance of the English law. We ma,
> assume in either case that the Irisl
:. Government would use it's own arm
in the interests of Ireland whethe
these interests be in harmony witt
or antagonistic to the interests of tn
British Empire.
2. If an Irish Executive Govern
ment is not set up Immediately o.
the passing of the Home Rule Bill
an Independent military authorit
may be established by the Irish vol
unteers themselves. Such an author
;, ity no doubt, would ultimately b
one representative of the whole Vol
:, unteers force throughout the coun
try.
These are the two choices for Iris
Volunteers-control by the Englis
War Office or control by an Irish au
O thority. Cooperation with the Brit
= ish army, control by the English Wa
i Office, is what Irish Unionists. an
n all Englishmen desire for the Iris
n Volunteers. This course is in strit
q record with Unionist principles an
8 traditions, and what England desire