THE HOME RULE BILL : RECRUITING IN IRELAND.
pro TDB EDITOR or TEE " ISPEOTATOB."1 SIR,—Mr. Asquith's appeal in introducing this measure was for those "who have borne and are bearing their share—and a noble share it has been—of building up and holding together the greatest Empire in the world." Mr. Redmond's appeal on the same occasion was " to admit Ireland on terms of equality and liberty and loyalty into the great sisterhood of nations which makes up the British Empire." If this is a sincere description of the Nationalist position will Mr. Redmond and Mr. Devlin and their friends sign a manifesto calling upon all their fellow-countrymen to support all move- ments in Ireland which tend to maintain the British Empire, and in particular to assist the work of recruiting for the Navy and the Army by all means in their power P I have been led to believe that some at least of those resident in Ireland have hitherto suspected that the Nationalist influence was exerted in a contrary direction. The Navy and the Army are to be "reserved services," but if the Nationalist sentiments are accurately described in the above-quoted extracts, all members of the party should be only too eager to dissipate the sus- picions to which I have referred, and to make it clear that every patriotic Irishman ought in their opinion to do all he can to help forward the work of recruiting. I venture to suggest that the recruiting authorities would find such a manifesto exceedingly useful, especially if it were also signed by the principal local Nationalists in every district. I do not think that all those Irish peasants who look upon the Nationalist members as their leaders entirely understand that those leaders desire them to give their assistance in " building up and hold- ing together the greatest Empire in the world," whether as sailors, or as soldiers, or in any other capacity. Would the presence of a training vessel for the Royal Navy in all the principal harbours of Ireland and a vigorous effort to obtain Irishmen to be trained on her have the unqualified support of the Nationalist leaders P I have found in and about Queenstown Harbour an impression that it would not; but after the authoritative speech about the "sisterhood of nations" it would look as though this impression were in- correct. Will Mr. Redmond make a public statement to this effect P—I am, Sir, &c.,
AN ENGLISHMAN WITH IRISH CONNEXIONS.
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