General Maxwell quickly signalled his intention "to arrest all dangerous Sinn Feiners", including "those who have taken an active part in the movement although not in the present rebellion", reflecting the popular belief that Sinn Féin, a separatist organisation that was neither militant nor republican, was behind the Rising.
O xeneral Maxwell expresou dende o primeiro momento a súa intención de "arrestar a todos os membros perigosos do Sinn Féin", incluídos "aqueles que formaran parte activa do movemento aínda que non o fixeran nesa rebelión en particular,” amosando así a crenza popular de que o Sinn Féin, unha organización separatista que non era nin militante nin republicana, estaba tras o Alzamento.