Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-26


Ireland is the natural result OF the
governments policy in Ireland" says
the Daily Mail Augustine Birrell.
chief secretary for Ireland. and Premier
Asauith sat still and allowed a rebel
force to be enrolled and armed. Ihey
did not move hand or foot against 1t.
On March II 1900 Irish volunteers
paraded, mostly armed with rifles, and
nobody stopped or challenged them.
"Mr BirreH never asked why the
volunteers existed. He knew IT was
not to serve against the enemy, but
rather to obstruct the imperial forces.
December 10 he declared, Evidence OF
their disloyalty is voluminous,' yet he
did nothing.
IF he had any policy other than
merely drifting. it was to turn blind
eve to the disloyal movement The
government persuaded itself that the
trea son could be overcome by resolute-
" looking the other way. The govern
ments wait -and-see policy was com
plicated by a hide the-truth policy.
Saws Press Was Muzzled.
'If the newspapers had been per-
hands Sunday night these things could
not have happened. The Irish author
tiles would have been aroused from
their sleeping sickness by the publ
cation of news that something very
exceptional was occurring. They might
have taken ordinary precautions. but
the press was muzzled. ii is proof of
the grossest negligence and obtuseness
when four or five parts of a great city
can be seized by comparatively
small number of armed men.
This colossal blunder follows upon
and surpasseS all other blunders of
the ysr How much longer is the ma
ton prepared to drift under the
domination of leaders who refuse to
Lead
The Daily Express says that Angus
tine Birrelrs strange hesitation in in
forming the house Of commons of the
Irish revolt makes 1t natural to i'm
agine the situation is worse than off,
cially reported. 1t is the duty of the
to admit the truth that stern measures
must be adopted against the Grass
folly of the rebels" and their possibly
good Intentions cannot be permitted to
save them from the consequences of
their crime.
Thinks Home Rule Hurt.
The Daily Chronicle says:
What is most dreaded now is that
even the order speedily restored may
be at the cost Of bloodshed which may
rankle for generations. One cannot
help fearing reaction against the pros
poets of constitutional home rule"
The Times says:
THE whole miserable business is a
sorry comment upon the complete
10
for law and order during the nine years
of his weak, callous administration
Such are the fruits of trucking to Sc
dition and making light of contempt
for law"
Sir Roger Easements invasion ap-
pears to have been the merest opera
boune. the Times adds the character
of which will be thoroughly appreciate
ed in Ireland. The paper suggests that
the Germans had grown tired of him
and his boasts ard insisted that he re-
deem his promises.
Effect on U. S. Opinion.
The Germans may have calculated"
continued the Times, that the rising
in ireland would influence certain
kinds of American opinion in their
favor at a time when relations with
the United States are critical. German
societies ana lrlSn societies IN america
have been working hand in glove to
prejudice opinion against Great Brit
ain. They doubtless will exert them
selves now about Ireland's struggle
for freedom"
"If the cabinet tries to hush up any
part of the truth or confine the in
telligence reaching America to official
doled out by them
selves, the German and Irish agencies
in the United States will have a free
field for their maiign activities, but If
the government allows responsible.
American correspondents to
matters freely and unfet-
tered. we are confident the Germans
will find they have misunderstood real
opinion.
Uprising Carefully Organized.
The arrest Of Sir Roger Easement is
dealt with BY the Pail Mall Gazette in