The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-04
BLAME FOR IRISH
 REBELLION PLACED Royal Commission Puts
 Fault at Door, of Birrell WIMBORNE GUILTLESS
Investigators Say That All Drilling and Military Activity by Citizens Should Have Been Stopped When
 the Big European War Began

London, July 3.-The royal commission to investigate the rebellion in Ireland de- cared today that Baron wimborne, then lord lieutenant, was in no way tc blame for the instruction. Baron Wmborne resigned shortly after the outbreak. Au- gustine Birrell, chief secretary for Ire land, also resigned, is blamed for the trouble, and it is declared that Baron
 Wimborne was in no way responsible for the policies of the government. The royal commission was presided over
 of the break in Ireland the report says: Tn endeavoring to elucidate the causes of the rebellion in Ireland, the fact
 should be borne in mind that there is al- ways, a section of opinion in that country
 bitterly opposed to British connection. and that in times of excitement this sec
 ton can impose it's sentiments on larger numbers of the people.
 The conclusion of the reports points out that it is outside the scope of the commissions instructions to inquire how
 far the policy of the Irish executive which was adopted by the cabinet as a whole, or to attach responsibility to any but the civil and military executive in
 Ireland" The report then gives these conclusions
 MAIN CAUSE OF REBELLION
 That the main cause of the rebellion to 1o ha Ia ur1a al-
 lowed to grow up unchecked, and that
 Ireland for several years past had been administered on the principle that it was safer and more expedient to leave the law in abeyance if collision with any fac ton of the Irish people could thereby be averted."
 The importation of large quantities of arms into Ireland and the federation of drilling by large bodies of men, first in Ulster and then in other districts, the re- port says created conditions which rem dered possible the recent troubles in Dub- lin and elsewhere.
 "1t appears to us,' say the commits sicners that reluctance was shown by the Irish government to repress by prose- cution, written and spoken, seditious ut
 terances and to suppress drilling and ma neuvering of armed forces known to be under control of men who openly were declaring their hostility to your ma jestys government and their readiness to welcome and assist your majesty's enc mics. There developed a widespread be- lief that no oppressive measures would be undertaken by the government against se6ition.
 SHOULD HAVE STOPPED DRILL This led to rapid increase of prep aration for insurrection, and was the inn mediate cause of the recent outbreak We arc of the opinion that on the out
 break of war all drilling and maneuver- ing by unrecognized bodies of men whether armed or unarmed, should have
 been strictly prohibited.
 Ut does not appear to be disputed, ' says the report. that the authorities ir
 the spring of 19l6 while believing that the seditious bodies would not venture
 unaided to break into insurrection, were
 convinced that they were prepared to as sist a German landing.
 "We do not think that any respon. sibility rests upon the lord lieutenants 1 He was Appointed in February, 1915 and wS no way answerable for the polH the government. We are how of the opinion that the chie1
 sed Y as the administrative head oi your fnajesty's government in Ireland primarily was responsible for the situ.
 tContinued on Page 1'weiveJ