and armed with the
least possible delay. Colonel Moore,[5] who was the chief of their
military staff at this time, says Mr. Hobson, saw no way of
accomplishing the latter object without the assistance of the military
authorities. Other men, who had come in since Redmond's speech,
impressed on the public that without legal recognition from the Crown no
Volunteer could act against the Germans in case of a landing without
exposing himself and others to the penalties which Germany was
inflicting in Belgium wherever the civilian population fired a shot. As
a result, negotiations were opened in August 1914 with the Irish
Command, and Colonel Moore, in concert with General Paget's staff, drew
up a scheme for training the Irish and Ulster Volunteers and for using
them when trained for a short term of garrison duty in Ireland. The
scheme was submitted to the Provisional Committee, who added conditions
designed to lead to rejection by the War Office; and in the upshot
Colonel Moore's proposals were refused by Lord Kitchener on one side and
by the Standing Committee of Volunteers on the other.

Redmond was of course aware of the failure of this scheme, and took up
the matter personally. He wrote to the Chief Secretary:

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

_September 9, 1914. Private_.

MY DEAR MR. BIRRELL,

I am very anxious to put shortly before you on paper my views with
reference to the Volunteer question, which we discussed with the
Prime Minister to-day. I take so strong a view on the subject that
I think I must ask you to show him this letter and to urge upon him
the importance of getting the War Office to move. I know the
influences that are at work in the War Office throwing cold water
on the Volunteers and causing intense dissatisfaction in Ireland by
unnecessary delays.

What I suggest should be done is this: There are two separate
questions: (1) Recruits; and (2) Volunteers for Home Defence.

The first absolutely depends upon the way in which the second is
treated. If the existing Volunteer organization is ignored and
sneered at and made little of, recruiting in the country will not
go ahead.

On the other hand, if the Volunteers are properly treated, I
believe that recruiting will go ahead.

Now, my suggestion is this: that an announcement should be made
immediately that the War Office are taking steps to assist in the