New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-05-26
Britain Charges Sim Fem
Planned New Uprising
With Enemy Aid
Traces Conspiracy
Fomented in u. S.
Bernstorf- Devoy Schemes
Carried On After Amer
lea Entered War

LONDON, May 25.-Germany' I'M
firing efforts to foment revolution in
ireland with the aid of the Sim Fem
are laid bare in a statement from the
official Press Bureau, reviewing this
phase of the Irish political situation
since the beginning Of the war
After the abortive rebellion of
Easter week, 1916, plans were made
for a revolt in 1917, but these miscar-
ried because of Americas entry into
the war and Germany's inability to
send troops to Ireland. An uprising in
Ireland was planned for this year after
the German offensive in the West had
been successful and when Great
Britain presumably would be stripped
of troops.
Concerning the recent arrests in Ire
land, the statement says that facts and
documents, for obvious reasons, can
not be disclosed at this time, nor can
the means of communication between
Germany and Ireland
Planned U-Boat Bases
One phase OF every plan called Tor
the establishment of submarine bases
in Ireland. In the present circum-
stances, it is added, no ether course
was open to the government, eff use
less hloodshed was to be avoided and
its duties to its allies fulfilled but to
intern the authors and abettors of this
criminal intrigue
The statement from the Press Bu-
reau follows:
"The revolutionary movement in Ire
land which eliminated in the arrest of
a considerable number of persons last
week consisted of two closely related
series OF activities: (a) Attempts by
the German government to foment re-
bellion in Ireland and tb) preparations
made in Ireland to carry these at
tempts into action. The story of the
active connection between the leaders
of the Sim Fem movement and the
Germans. as disclosed by documents in
possession of the British government,
falls into two part-the period prior
to and the period since the abortive
Irish rebellion of Easter, 1916.
Later Events Concealed
"The events of the first period can
be told in some detail, but the second
period, which concerns recent events,
permits of no more than a summary. as
full statement on the facts and docu-
ments in possession of the government
would disclose the names of persons
who stood by the government ant, also
the channels of communication through
which the German government was
acting and which it would not be in
the public interest to reveal at present.
"The story begins as early in the
war as November 6, 1914, when Herr
Zimmerman transmitted through Count
Won Bernstorff message from
Sir Roger Easement Oater captured in
Ireland and executed) asking that a
messenger, native born American if
possible, be sent to Ireland with word
that everything was favorable. He was
to carry no letter for fear of arrest.
Easement also asked that an Irish
priest should be sent to Germany, with
the assistance of the German Legation
in Norway, to work in prison camps to
corrupt Irish prisoners of war
This priest was certain Father
John T. Nicholson, an American citizen
of Irish birth. He reached Germany
safely and we find him in Janu-
airy, 1915, transmitting messages to
America.
Quote Won Papen Report
According to a report of Captain
Won Papen German Military Attache
in Wash n OFT OpN dotad Doco,oba- z