Evening journal., 1918-06-26
Irish PLOTTING
IS english PERIL
Chief Secretary Tells CON-
mons That the Danger
is Imminent
CLERGY SEEK
TO KEEP PEACE


LONDON. June 26.--Edward Short
chief secretary for Ireland, speakin!
In the House Of Commons yesterday, oI
the Irish question, said he hoped to sat
isfy the House that the German plo
in ireland was real and imminent dan
ger TO this country. He said he was
satisfied that both the clergy and th'
Nationalists had used their influence
respectively, to assist in keeping th'
peace.
Secretary Shortt said the Government
had found that Germany was in touch
with ireland and that not only were
messages going to Ireland from a Ger
man source. but that they were going
from Irish sources 10 Germany.
The collapsible boat in which the
man. who now IS a prisoner, landed IN
Ireland from a submarine, Mr.. Shortl
said was made Of canvas similar 10 that
made at Hanover before the war.
Mr.. shortt said the Government knew
that In a certain port OF Germany a
large amount Of ammunition was load
ed into. a German submarine, and that
moreover. submarines had been seen
in localities where the destruction OF
shipping could not have been their
object
Premier Lloyd George urged the need
of settling the Irish problem because II
was increasing the difficulties not mere
IL Of the British Government but the
difficulties Of the United States Govern
ment in conducting the war.
Mr.. Shortt, continuing, said that
since the Premier had announced the
. Governments policy with regard TO
ireland. circumstances had entirely
chenged. here being two main causes
for the change. The first, and most
far reaching cause, he said, was the
discovery OF a German plot In Ireland
which he hoped he would be able to-
satisfy the House was a real and im-
minent danger TO the country. In ad-
ditIon. there was the fact that the feel
ing in ireland was against conscrip-
tion. and the movement which neces-
ssrily followed that feeling had been
used by the extremists in q physical
movement in conjunction with the Ger
man plot.
The speaker said he did not for mo-
ment saw that any substantial proper
ton OF those I'm Ireland who were op-
posed 20 conscription had any mowl-
edge that they were being used TO fur
there a German plot.
Mr.. Shortt said that Sim Feiners had
been captured In the anti-conscriptior
movement. IL had been declared thai
the German plot was a bogus plot in
tended to iniure Ireland, but he re
rretted 10 say that there was no neet
for invention. for the plot was fact
When he and Viscount French went L
ireland. Mr.. Scott continued, they founC
the temperance OF seditious propa
eanda in the form of poems, pamphlet:
and notices, posted on the walls, incit.
ing the people TO aiding any force thai
might land in the country.
ANY straw and fodder taken by the
German army" Mr.. Short said one OF
these posters read, 'Nvill be paid for by
Germany"
Mr.. Shortt quoted excerpts from many
speeches urging Illegal drillings for the
purpose Of assisting Germany and said
the sources Of information upon which
the Government relied to show German
intrigue existed both in Ireland and
outside had always proved true when
tested by substantial events.
He said he had traced the activity Of
German agents in Ireland from 1911 and
added that at the beginning Of the war
a pamphlet entitled ireland, Germany
and the Freedom Of the Seas had been
in circulation in Ireland. IL bore evil
dence OF being German printed and
for the last three months had begun to
reappear in Ireland.
It was here the speaker said that
the Government had found Germany
was in touch with Ireland and made
reference to the oollapslble boat in
which the prisoner in the Tower had
landed.
It was a very peculiar coincidence,
Mr.. Shortt continued, that upon Prof
Edward De Valera, member Of Parlia-
ment for East Glare, and a prominent
Sim Feiner, was found the text Of a
letter written to him by another in
Termed man which made allusion TO
something that was going TO happen
Two months after the German offensive
began and that de Valera was reminded
hat the two months would not be up
until the end OF May.
Donald Mcneil, Unionist, interrupt
ng the speaker, asked, HAS the writer
been shot9"
no" replied Mr.. shortt. "and until
we are forced by those who call them
selves interned persons. we have no
desire for any more executions. IL we
pan protect the country and insure the
safety Of the realm without any more
executions we want to do so. II il is
otherwise, the responsibility will be
upon those who force it upon us"
Ex-Premier Asquith again appealed
10 the government to refer the Irish
question TO the DominiOns conference
The seizure OF 10000 rounds OF am
tuumtion in the Smithfeld market in
Dublin is expected TO have develop
mehts, according to the Dublin cores
pondent to the Daily Maily," who
says the seizure was an incident in an
attempt to smuggle arms and ammuni-
ton into Ireland on a large scale.
The FIRST discovery Of the affair seems
TO have been made by the police at
Belfast. where a ship, the name OF
which is not divulged, arrived the lat
ter part Of last week, bringing mis-
cellaneous cargo, among which con-
traband was cleverly distributed The
contraband goods were consigned to
various parts Of the country. An inves-
tigation is proceeding TO discover how
much of it reached its destination.
II is understood that in addition 10
the seizure at Dublin, 5000 cartridges
were found in Belfast and other par
GELS in Dungannon and portadown The
Dublin consignment was hidden in
sacks of oats. The consignee is said to
be a brother Of one Of the interned Sim
Feners.
Tn unI n pIfxJ1yAEE CAIE