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IS DOCUMENT I S THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY S GOVEFNMRNT).

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E C R ' T.
P.

3196.

REPORT BY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF ON THE SITUATION IN IRELAND FOR W ENDING 3 0 t h J u l y , 1 9 2 1 .

( C i r c u l a t e d by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r War). 1. GENSRAL SITUATION* The g e n e r a l s i t u a t i o n In I r e l a n d i s , that

t h e agreement h a s b e e n k e p t and t h a t t h e r e have been few s e r i o u s o u t r a g e s d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d under r e v i e w . It is difficult however

t o f o r e c a s t t h e f u t u r e and t o know whether the terms

offered quite are apart

t o Mr. de Valera a r e l i k e l y t o be a c c e p t e d o r r e j e c t e d , from what t h o s e terras may a c t u a l l y b e .

These d i f f i c u l t i e s

found p a r t l y i n t h e c o m p l e x i t i e s o f t h e I r i s h c h a r a c t e r which i n c l u d e t h e i r v i s i o n a r y and i m p r a c t i c a l o u t l o o k on p o l i t i c a l p r o b l e m s , t h e i r c a p a c i t y f o r p r a c t i c a l o r g a n i s a t i o n and t h e i r intensely materialistic, almost s o r d i d , o u t l o o k on ever-;day m a t t e r s . characteristics

I t i s n o t e a s y t o c a l c u l a t e how t h e f i r s t o f t h e s e

may overcome t h e l a s t and induce them t o g r a s p a t a shadow when the substance ia within t h e i r reach. Another f a c t o r \ftiich makes i t d i f f i c u l t t o s e e how t h e y w i l l the

a c t i n p r e s e n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s i s t h e i r fundamental i g n o r a n c e o f English character. They have b o a s t e d so much of t h e i r victory

o v e r England t h a t many r e a l l y b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y can

successfully

demand any terms and t h e y do n o t r e a l i s e t h a t t h e r e i s a c e r t a i n p o i n t beyond which p u b l i c o p i n i o n I n Great B r i t a i n w i l l not allow any Government t o be f o r c e d end t h a t t h a t p o i n t h a s v e r y n e a r l y been reached. F i n a l l y much o f the i n f o r m a t i o n r e c e i v e d i s t a i n t e d . For

i n s t a n c e l e t t e r s from i n t e r n m e n t camps are c a r e f u l l y c e n s o r e d from

w i t h i n and t h e brave words about I . R . A . d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o c o n t i n u e the struggle are worth n o t h i n g s e e i n g t h a t t h e y are c l o s e l y

s c r u t i n i s e d b e f o r e t h e y are s e n t o u t and are w r i t t e n by mon most of whom w i l l c o n t i n u e t h e s t r u g g l e from t h e comparative l u x u r y and a b s o l u t e s a f e t y of t h e camps. Ori t h e o t h e r hand i n B a l l y k i n l a r

Camp an a t t e m p t h a s been made s i n c e J u l y 1 1 t h . t o e f f e c t t h e e s c a p e of 20 men v i d e p a r a . 3 b e l o w . This a t t e m p t , however, was f r u s t r a t e d

j u s t b e f o r e t h e t u n n e l was c o m p l e t e d . The Propaganda Campaign i s c o n t i n u e d w i t h g r e a t v i g o u r . I s aimed at e m p h a s i s i n g t h e " V i c t o r y ^ and s t i f f e n i n g the and r a i s i n g t h e moral and eSjprtt de c o r p s o f t h e I . R . A . perhaps s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t t h e r e i s l i t t l e It

discipline It is

or no mention of a

r e p u b l i c t h o u g h t h e r e i s mueh r e p e t i t i o n of t h e c o m f o r t a b l e but n e b u l o u s p h r a s e "free n a t u r a l s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n " . f o r t h i s propaganda are n o t d i f f i c u l t to find. The r e a s o n s

A u n i t e d f r o n t by

a l l shades o f o p i n i o n i n Sinn F e i n i s e s s e n t i a l i n p r e s e n t circum s t s n c e s and i t i s e v i d e n t t h a t t h e l e a d e r s o f I.H.A. are determined o do a l l t h e y can t o m a i n t a i n d i s c i p l i n e , e v e n at t h e c o s t of self-determination, s i n c e d i s c i p l i n e w i l l be d e s i r a b l e i f t h e terms

of the Government are a c c e p t e d and e s s e n t i a l i f t h e y are r e f u s e d , when an Immediate r e s u m p t i o n of h o s t i l i t i e s by the e x t r e m i s t s must be e x p e c t e d . Moreover they cannot be a n x i o u s a t t h e

[enthusiasm w i t h which p e a c e h a s been r e c e i v e d throughout the Country and t h e y have i n some c a s e s t a k e n s t e p s t o damp down t h e e j o l c i n g s o f the p e o p l e . They know t o o t h a t t h e r e a r e many who

Ire nervous about t h e p o s s i b l e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e Crown F o r c e s i n ase of a r e s u m p t i o n o f h o s t i l i t i e s and who l o o k forward t o a

enewal of a l i f e "on t h e run" w i t h i t s a t t e n d a n t r i s k s and Increased d i s c o m f o r t s d u r i n g the w i n t e r months w i t h s u c h d i s l i k e hat t h e v w i l l n o t w i l l i n g l y respond t o t h e c a l l o f t h e i r l e a d e r s . The e x t r e m i s t s are a n x i o u s . At t h e moment many o f them

jave no p o s i t i o n t o which t h e y can r e t u r n and a c e s s a t i o n o f

h o s t i l i t i e s would perhaps l e a v e them w i t h o u t employment.

At t h e

moment t h e y do n o t appear t o be l o o k i n g f o r r e g u l a r work p a r t l y f o r o b v i o u s r e a s o n s and p o s s i b l y b e c a u s e from an e m p l o y e r ' s p o i n t of view t h e y would n o t be e n t i r e l y s a t i s f a c t o r y . Propaganda t h e r e

f o r e i s n e c e s s a r y t o s o o t h e any a n x i e t i e s t h e y may f e e l . A most d e t e r m i n e d -and o r g a n i z e d a t t e m p t i s b e i n g made t o show t h a t the c e s s a t i o n of m i l i t a r y a c t i o n by the Grown F o r c e s tantamount t o a r e c o g n i t i o n o f the I . R . A , as a b e l l i g e r e n t The " L i a i s o n " o f f i c e r s , is

force.

most of whom have sprung from comparative

o b s c u r i t y , and of whom one a t l e a s t h a s s i g n e d a d e c l a r a t i o n t o the e f f e c t t h a t he h a s n e v e r had a n y t h i n g to do w i t h t h e I . R . A . are

now a l l Commandants I . R . A . and some o f them have a c t u a l l y r e f u s e d to Continue t h e i r f u n c t i o n s b e c a u s e the m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s of t h e Crown F o r c e s have s t e a d i l y r e f u s e d t o r e c o g n i s e t h e i r m i l i t a r y status. I t l a n o t c l e a r Indeed t h a t t h e i r l e a d e r s have r e a l i s e d of our a d m i t t i n g t h e b e l l i g e r e n t status

what would be t h e e f f e c t

of the I . R . A . and of I n s i s t e n c e on a r i g i d adherence t o the Laws and Customs o f war. F i n a l l y t h e r e are a c e r t a i n number among a l l c l a s s e s md

s e c t i o n s who are g e n u i n e l y a f r a l s l e s t t h e y should be d e c e i v e d "once again" and induced t o a c c e p t a n y t h i n g under a m i s a p p r e h e n s i o n . 2 . ACTIVITIES OF THE I . R . A . There have been a c e r t a i n number of c a s e s where t h e I . R . A . have demanded f r e e food and l o d g i n g and more where they have committed minor o u t r a g e s t o c o l l e c t money and stores.

T h e i r main a c t i v i t i e s have been i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of r e o r g a n i z i n g t h e i r v a r i o u s u n i t s and i n t a k i n g such s t e p s as t h e y can t o stimulate recruiting. In some a r e a s t h e y have c o n s c r i p t e d a l l men

and boys between the ages o f 15 and 5 0 , but t h i s does n o t appear t o be g e n e r a l t h r o u g h o u t I r e l a n d .

A l l r a i l w a y s havo now been r e p a i r e d , but t h e I . H . A . have n o t a l l o w e d t h e r e p a i r o f roads and b r i d g e s e x c e p t where t h e i r was i n c o n v e n i e n t t o the p u b l i c . There have a l s o beer, a good many c a s e s o f d r i l l i n g and a c e r t a i n number of s e a r c h i n g f o r arms.
3

destruction

'

ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE PROM BALLYKINLAR INTERACT T CAMP * On t h e 2 7 t h J u l y , i n consequence o f i n f o r m a t i o n received,

a s e a r c h wae made a t B a l l y k i n l a r Internment Camp and r e v e a l e d t h e e x i s t e n c e of a c l e v e r l y c o n s t r u c t e d t u n n e l some 215 f e e t l o n g l e a d i n g under both t h e o b s t a c l e s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e camp. This t u n n e l h a s

been under c o n s t r u c t i o n f o r p r o b a b l y f i v e or s i x weeks, and t h e r e i s e v i d e n c e t o show t h a t an e s c a p e o f a t l e a s t 20 o f the most important I n t e r n e e s was planned f o r t h e n i g h t o f Monday 1 s t . / 2 n d . August. Evidence e x i s t s t h a t Joseph McGrath, who was c o n v e n i e n t l y r e l e a s e d a t t h e i n s t a n c e of t h e Government on J u l y 2 4 t h , h a s , his release, been i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h Michael C o l l i n s f o r e s c a p e by t h i s t u n n e l , since

regarding

the s e l e c t i o n ,

of t h o s e i n t e r n e e s who hostilities

would bo most v a l u a b l e t o t h e I . R . A . i n the e v e n t of b e i n g recommenced. 4 , JUDGMENT OP THE MASTER OF THE ROLLS..

L a s t month c o u n s e l f o r two men, Egan and H i g g i n s , t h e s e n t e n c e d t o d e a t h f o r c a r r y i n g ammunition and t h e l a t t e r

former for t a k i n g

p a r t i n the Clonmult ambush, a p p l i e d t o t h e Right Hon. (Jharles 0 C o n n o r , Master of

1

the R o l l s i n t h e High Court ot D u b l i n , f o r a previous

w r i t o f Habeas Corpus, which h a s been g r a n t e d , a l t h o u g h

s i m i l a r a p p l i c a t i o n s t o the High Court o f t h e King*s Bench in D u b l i n had been r e f u s e d by a fuD. bench on t h e ground t h a t i t had been e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t a s t a t e of war e x i s t s j u s t i f y i n g M a r t i a l Law.

Seeing that such a c t i o n on the part of a c i v i l Judge w&a at v a r i a n c e , not only with the Judgment of the King'a Bench, but a l s o with the e s t a b l i s h e d Army p r a c t i c e by which i t i s understood that the o f f i c e r administering Martial Law (which i s no Law) i s r e s p o n s i b l e only t o the House of Commons t o whom he looks f o r indemnity to cover a l l such a c t s as he considered i t was n e c e s - a r y for him to t a k e , I d i r e c t e d my subordinate o f f i c e r s t o ignore the a c t i o n of the Master of the R o l l s . lhere" upon a w r i t of attachment v/as i s s u e d by the Master of the R o l l s against myself and subordinates concerned. d i r e c t e d t h a t no n o t i c e should be taken of t h i s w r i t . The s i t u a t i o n w i l l have to be cleared up as i t affects I again

the powers of the B r i t i s h Army a l l over the world and as ragarde I r e l a n d , i f one I r i s h Judge, contrary t o the judgment of h i s c o l l e a g u e s , can make a d e c i s i o n of t h i s nature, the p o s i t i o n i s one of grave importance. (Sgd) C.F.N. Macready.

General, Commanding-in-Chief, IRELAND. 2nd August. 1921.

CIVILIANS TRIED BY COURTS-MARTIAL. 29 c i v i l i a n s have been t r i e d by C o u r t s - M a r t i a l , were c o n v i c t e d and sentenced, as u n d e r : IN POSSESSION OP ARMS, AMMUNITION OR EXPLOSIVES. 1 I 2 4 1 1 1 to P.S. for Life. t o 15 y r s . P . S . t o 10 y r s , P . S . to 7 yrs.P.S. to 5 yrs.P.S. t o 6 months Imp.H.L. fined. o f whom 26

(b) IN POSSESSION O P SEDITIOUS LITERATURE. 3 to 2 yrs.Imp.H.L. ( c ) LARCENY. 1 t o 1 month Imp. H.L. (d) MALICIOUS DAMAGE. 2 t o 15 y r s . P . 3 . 4 t o 1 y r . Imp. H.L. ( e ) MISCELLANEOUS. 2 t o 8 months Imp. H.L. 3 t o 3 months w i t h o u t H.L.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

APPENDIX
1 1

II.

INTERNMENT OF MKMHERS OF I . R . A . The f o l l o w i n g number o f members of I.R.A.ha*ve b e e n recommended f o r internments 393. 138. 541. 488. 342. 481. 595. 210. 193. 1,440. 4,821. 1st. Division. 5th. Division. 6th. Division. Dublin D i s t r i c t . 531. 1,371. 1,479. 1,440. 4,821. MEMBERS OF I . R . A . RECOMMENDED FOR INTERNMENT BY RANKS. Brigade Commandants. Brigade S t a f f . B a t t a l i o n Commandants. Battalion Staff. Company O f f i c e r s . Other Ranks & Ranks unknown. 21. 59. 93. 235. 1,708. 2,705. 4,821.

15th Infantry Brigade. Londonderry B r i g a d e . 13th. Infantry Brigade. (Athlone). 14th Infantry Brigade. (Curragh). Galvray B r i g a d e . 16th. 17th. 18th. Kerry Infantry Brigade. (Fermoy). I n f a n t r y B r i g a d e . (Cork) Infantry Brigade. (Limerick). Brigade.

Dublin D i s t r i c t .