Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-18
PROBE OF REBELLION
IN IRELAND STARTS
Witness Declares Government
Was Previously Informed
of Plot to Revolt.
OUTBREAK OCCURS AS
ARRESTS ARE PLANNED
Premier Asquith Convinced New
Regime Is Essential for Gov ,
erning Emerald Isle.

LONDON. May 1s.-F'rom testimony
developed today at the hearing opened
by the royal commission to inquire into
the Irish rebellion it appeared that the
government had received advance in
formation of preparations for an up
rising with help from German sources.
The Testimony was given by Sir
Matthew Nathan, who resigned as un-
dersecretary for Ireland after the re-
bellion broke out. The government had
received advices, said Sir Matthew, that
an attempt would be made to land
arms in Ireland from German subma-
rines: also that rifles had been pur-
chased from Irish soldiers home on
leave, while others had been taken
into the country in passengers bag
gage.
But Few Show Disloyalty.
The former undersecretary gave this
testimony In the course of long state
ment outlining the formation of the
National Volunteers. of which, he de-
clared, small section only had shown
themselves disloyal. the leaders of this
section having issued a manifesto de-
claring that Ireland should provide for
its own defense and Indicating an In
tention to establish a free national
government of Ireland.
The leaders of the movement, he
said. directed their efforts to securing
more rifles and ammunition and to
storing as large an amount of material
as possible. This was where the real
danger came from, he added, as it was
felt that an attempt at disarmament
might lead to bloodshed
Arrests Are Considered.
possession of SUFFICIENT evidence of the
association of the movements leaders
with a foreign enemy, continued Sir
Matthew. had decided upon their ar
rest and were discussing the matter on
April "a, when the rebellion broke out
He defended the failure of the govern
ment to disarm the volunteers on the
ground that such action might have
altenated the sympathies of many loyal
volunteers and added:
There are $4,000 Irish Catholics en-
listed in the army"
The royal Irish constabulary was
considered strong enough to cope with
disorders. the witness continued. A
1000 others. with three machine guns
was always in readiness, and these,
with $500 men from the Curragh, were
thought capable Of dealing with the
outbreak in Dublin. but contrary to ex-
pectations they were insufficient.
New Government Likely.
DUBLIN. May 1s.-Premier Asouith
has reached the conclusion from i'm
pressions gathered during his Irish visit
that the old form of government in
Ireland has had its day. The Associated
Press learns from sources in the closest
touch with the Premier that Mr.. AS
quith's conversations and conferences
have convinced him that the future
government must be conducted on an
entirely different system. The prime
minister has taken care to learn the
ideas and Views of many persons other
than those in purely official circles. and
these persons have offered greatly
believed. could be adopted in its en-
tirety. but it is thought they might be
welded together to form a proposal to
lay before the cabinet. The premier
himself does not know what form his
proposal will eventually take and, in
fact, 1t will probably be fully devel-
oped only at the cabinet meeting.
Vacancies to Be Filled.
Steps toward filling the vacancies in
the Irish administration are being
taken. and 1t is supposed that the main
reason for the premier's being sworn
in as a member of the Irish privy
council is that he may become the re-
sponsible minister in parliament for
Irish affairs temporarily.
The nationalist members attach the
greatest significance to this step be-
cause IT will give the premier an ac-
tual voice in shaping the administra-
ton of Ireland.
The London papers TEEN with sug-
gestions of possible settlement of
the Irish problem. They favor for the
most part the idea Of granting execu-
tive government to south and west
Ireland. leaving Ulster under the i'm
perial government. They point out
that should experience show success
fu. results in the south and west under
the Dublin parliament, Ulster might
eventually be inclined to come in under
that parliament. !