The Irish standard., 1918-06-29
REAL PURPOSE OF THE CONSUMPTION MOVEMENT


REAL PURPOSE OF THE CONSUMPTION MOVEMENT
IN IRELAND.
Evidently Lloyd George has determined adopt the his
torc British policy of muddling through" some way in
reference to the Irish situation this could be accom-
plished by the conspiracy of silence" program that
would doubtless be adopted With leaders of the Sim
Fem party safely interned English prisons and military
camps was considered temporary expedent to
irish affairs in state of suspension Conscrpton need
not ne pressed II indeed it intended carried
out practicable What was absolutely needed
however, was an explanation and the delay in
the introduction of the promised Home Rule bill With
America watching every step in British politics would
not be advisable persist withholding of the bill
without at least seemy therefor
But Lloyd George audacious not to say
polclan He knew that the mingling of the two ques
tons OF conscrption and sefgovernment would tend to
create the confusion which he hoped predicate his
reputation of promise to introduce the Home Rule bill
To any one who takes the trouble anayze situation
will be clear that the conscrption program was brought
IN wfuy to bosge and befog the issue of sefgovernmen
Lloyd George knew, and knows now that copscrption in
Ireland is impossible. He knows, too that it is imprac
cable and inexpedient from any point of whatso
ever Why then bring it forward the same hour that
the Home Rule bill to be considered? 1t was as
has been said merely to lay the foundation
for further delay and aay suspicion of the good
faith of the ministry.
According British military census comnleted i'm
October 1916 Ireland then had 64544 between the
OF eighteen and ffyone years. OF these 245 S75
were engaged in indispensable occupations and 1O7492
physically unfit for There were 130S41
who had already enlisted the war; leaving only
available for military service But since that
taken is officially 1000 more Irish ha We
volunteered, leaving only 12 900 who might now be
drawn So Ireland has of her total of 291
already given 100000 under enforcement but as vol
unteers. This represents 5s.1 per cent.
To this generous contribution relands population
of little four millions should be added other ele-
ents drawn into the British SERVICE the opinion
OF good authorities adds another hundred thousand to the
total Among these are to be included the Royal Irish
Constabuary in Dublin, which numbers from twenty to
thirty thousand of the standing army
patton in Ireland There branches of this Consabu-
larry in all of the large cities Ireland
of the smaller Again in large English
Cities like London and Liverpool there strong bodies
Irish membership which part the
British Imperial military system, but usually
when arriving at the total of Irish strength
British man-power. The Irish soldiers enlisted in the
English regiments also overlooked in the computations
of those who stating the in the
England and to the detriment of Ireland
1t is therefore, close approximation to the actual
truth of the matter to put reands share of the
of Britain 3OOO00 which than seven per
cent of the entire population.
From the point of view of military and material expedi-
it would be grossly mprudent to draw further the
of the left in Ireland for the produc-
tion of food and the other of the
British ministry we'll knows and appreciates this condi-
tion of affairs. They seriously contemplated the
actual enforcement of conscripton in Ireland
Ulster they knew it would meet with bitter resistance 1t
introduced merely to confuse the situation
antagonsm in America to the Irish attitude ultimately
foresal the palpabe violation good
in Withholding Irish selfgovernment. camouage
not worked to produce the desired effect in America
Notwithstanding the cooperative antics enemies
Ireland in this country