New-York tribune., 1918-05-25
Premier Says There Is No
Doubt Great Rising
Was Planned
Absolves Leaders
Of Nationalists
LINED to Take Place at
Moment of German
Drive i'm France

hDlNBuRGH, May Speaking at
luncheon here o-day, Premier Llovd
george said there was no doubt that
mere mad been conspiracy for a
siea' rising in Ireland. He stated
.hat he had seen the evidence. The
leaders of the Nationalist partv. he
ADDED, had nothing to do with it.
The Premier said regarding the ac-
.ion taken against the Sim Feiners
ehat no taunts would drive the gov
ernment to give away the sources of
Its information.
From the evidence in tho govern-
menus possession. he declared. it was
clear that the moment when the Ger
mans were attempting their operations
IN France was deemed the time for
stimulating the rising.
The Premier said it was not relevant
10 assert that England had treated Ire
land badly in the dim past. This was
not England's war. 1t was a struggle
or Belgium, Serbia and other small ma
tionalltles, and of Italy and the Rus
sian Empire.
am sorry to say" he continued,
that Ireland has lot merely sulked,
put that many lrishmen seem to have
been swayed by that military autocra-
cy winch oppressed small nations"
Inc Premier concluded his reference
to Ireland as follows
"All the indications in our possess
sion point to the fact that the blow
was timed for the moment when the
herman high command deemed it's
preparations TO crush the British army
IN france had reached the culminating
point. Had we shirked stern action
without delay we should have deserved
impeachment
Let me make one point clear. The
irish Nationalist leaders had nothing
10 40 with It, They were not even cog
nlzant of it. Of that | am convinced
from the evidence. | am therefore not
IN the least surprised at the doubts
they expressed as to it's existence.
Il do not despair of Irishmen realiz-
ing soon that they are not doing we'll
Tor the credit of their great race to
stand out In this struggle. Opportu
nifty will be afforded them to come for
ward OF their own accord, and 7 am
hopeful that the response will be
worthy the best and highest traditions
of their race"
The Premier's words evoked loud an
plause. az
The Premier referred to the brilliant
achievements of Scottish divisions ii
the recent battle, and added:
The lrlshmen fought as brilliantly
as they always did when face to face
with danger, but the vast majority Of
the manhood of Ireland ,unfortunatel,
held aloof."
LONDON, May 24.-The Official Press
Bureau has issued a statement regard
ing the Irish arrests and the revolu-
tlonary movement in Ireland which
culmlnated in the arrest of a num-
Der OF persons last week
lhe story of the active connection
between the leaders of the Sim Fein
movement and the Germans. as dis
closed by documents in the possession
OF the British government, falls into
two p:arts-the period prior to and
mat since the abortive Irish rebellion
of Easter. 1916. The events of the
frst period are dwelt upon in some
detail, but those of the second period
permit of no more than summary
the bureau says, as full statement of
the facts and documents in the pos
session Oh the government would dis
close the names of persons who we're
loyal to Great Britain and the chan
nels Of communication through which
the German government acted and
winch 1T is not in the public interest
to feveal. %
The story of the period before Eas-
ter, 1915. takes up in detail the work
OF German agents, prominent among
whom was Count Won Bernstorff. former
German Ambassador to the United
States. 'e