Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-20
PRESENCE OF B|RRELL
AR0UsEs KEEN INTEREST
Appears as Witness Before Royal
Commission.
INQUIRY INTO REBELLIO
Reads Statement Which He Had Pre-
pared, and Which He Describes as
Dealing In General Manner With
Sim FciniSm.

LONDON. May 1s-Augustine Bir.
reli. who resigned as Chief Secretary
for ireland after the Sim rein revolt.
appeared to-day as "a witness before
the royal commission which il conduct
Ing All inquiry into the Irish rebellion.
aroused keen interest, in view OF the
dramatic testimony given by Sir Mat
thew Nathan. former Under Secretary
for Ireland. at yesterdays hearing.
Sir Matthew testified that the gov
eminent had had advance information
rce"rdin; the German ri,.iS for aiding
the Irish rebels. and NJ Eirrcll was
expected 10 give more details on this
point.
~ the outset OF the hearing Mr.
Birrcll stated that he had read Sir
Matthew Nathau's statement, and that
he did not know that there were any
additions or notifications he wished to
make He then read statement
which he had prepared. and which he
described as dealing in general man
ncr with Sim Fcinism.
MIR. Birrcii continued:
"If the home rule bill had not been
placed on the statute books. there
would have been a great explosion OF
rage and disappointment. both in
ireland aud In the United states. which
when war came would have assumed
alarming proportions. The events in
Ulster and tho sum-runminG in I.arnc
by the Obstetrics IN 1914 undoubtcdly
had great effect on disl"yalists else
whore
Ireland had preserved an unbroken
front 1T the outbreaks OF the war
through tho patriotism Of John Red
moud. MIR. Birrcll continued. but there
were many who did not agree with his
attitude !, was impossible ~ over
estimate tho effect which the advent
Of the Ulster leader. Sir Edward Car
son, 10 the Cabinet had exercised upon
tho minds Of the people of Ireland II
Mir. Redmond had accepted once In
tho same Cabinet. he would not have
remained leader Of the Irish party
DEVELOPED EXPECTATIONS
on GERMAN LANDING:
bo prolonged. Mr.. Birreit said, ireland
soon !Cvclopcd--not wholly uurcason-
able expectations of \ German landing
and Of partial risinss IL dincrcn, parts
Of Ireland; and promises " German as
sistan"e we're At tho bottom o. ~. cut
break. Answering Baron iIardiuge
Mr., Brrcll said;
Sim roinism had spread all over
tho place. The Sim Fciners were sict,
~ parliaW out.ry parties, aud tho! de-
sired to hc left alone. ! realized for
two years certainly that there was
dangerous movement in ireland. but
after consultation with tho various
Irish leaders. came 10 tho conclusion
that policy of uunintcry cnti"u waa
tho safest. These armed bodies OF VIC.
lators were all over the place. aud f
NC could have got disarmament all
around IL would have been an infinite
blessing, but 10 disarm any one sec
ton OF the population on the evidence
VIC had wou,d have heen n dangerous
aud doubtful proposition
Earou lIurd,nSe You uccd no, an.
s"or this question, hut why nero the
irish leaders "ho advised ,uu ,n this
policy to he relied uron?"
Mr.. Rirrcll: I'm tho mrs, rlacc I
had formed 4 pretty clear estimate Of
my own, ana don't think ever was
much influenced by other people But
Mr. Redmond, for example. always took
the view that the Sim Fcincrs were
negligible, and he said So in tho House
of commons did not attach much
Importance 10 his opinion, because
va. quite sure they were dangerous"