ight spot--that every one of his
Majesty's dominions beyond the seas will be behind us in whatever act it
is necessary to take. [Cheers.] This only I should add. The Government
already know, but I give them now the assurance on behalf of the party
of which I am leader in this House, that in whatever steps they think it
necessary to take for the honor and security of this country they can
rely upon the unhesitating support of the Opposition. [Loud Ministerial
and Opposition cheers.]

* * * * *

CHANGED IRISH FEELING.

Statement in House of Commons, Aug. 3, by John E. Redmond, M.P.

I hope the House will not consider it improper on my part in the grave
circumstances in which we are assembled if I intervene for a very few
moments. I was moved a great deal by that sentence in the speech of the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in which he said that the one
bright spot in the situation was the changed feeling in Ireland. In past
times, when this empire has been engaged in these terrible enterprises
it is true--it would be the utmost affectation and folly on my part to
deny it--the sympathy of the Nationalists of Ireland, for reasons to be
found deep down in centuries of history, has been estranged from this
country. But allow me to say that what has occurred in recent years has
altered the situation completely. [Ministerial cheers.] I must not
touch, and I may be trusted not to touch, on any controversial topics,
but this I may be allowed to say--that a wider knowledge of the real
facts of Irish history have, I think, altered the view of the democracy
of this country toward the Irish question, and today I honestly believe
that the democracy of Ireland will turn with the utmost anxiety and
sympathy to this country in every trial and every danger that may
overtake it. [General cheers.] There is a possibility at any rate of
history repeating itself. The House will remember that in 1778, at the
end of the disastrous American war, when it might, I think, truly be
said that the military power of this country was almost at its lowest
ebb, and when the shores of Ireland were threatened with foreign
invasion, a body of 100,000 Irish volunteers sprang into existence for
the purpose of defending her shores. At first no Catholic--ah! how sad
the reading of the history of those days is--was allowed to be enrolled
in that body of volunteers, and yet from the very first day the
Catholics of