“The fact remains that when we were faced with that difficult and formidable task, practically every suggestion that we made, based on the strength of our own knowledge of what was suitable for Ireland and the conditions there, was put upon one side.  The gentlemen who were responsible for that evidently believed that they knew what was suited to the necessities of Ireland far better than we did.  A score of times, at least, I put upon paper and sent to the Government and the War Office my suggestions and my remonstrances, but all in vain.  Often, almost in despair, I was tempted to rise in this House and publicly tell the House of Commons the way in which we were hampered and thwarted in our work in Ireland.  I refrained from doing so from fear of doing mischief and from fear of doing harm.  To-day I am very glad that I so refrained, because in spite of these discouragements, in spite of this thwarting and embarrassing, and in spite of the utterly faulty and ridiculous system of recruiting that was set on foot, we have succeeded, and have raised in Ireland a body of men whose numbers Lord Kitchener, in his letter to the Irish conference, declared were magnificent.”

He quoted the Unionist Birmingham Post for the saying that what had happened in Ireland was “a miracle.”  From the National Volunteers 27,054 men had joined the colours; from the Ulster Volunteers 27,412.  In both forces there must be many left who could not leave Ireland, yet might be utilized in Ireland.

“It may be remembered that the very day the war broke out I rose in my place in this House and offered the Volunteers to the Government for Home Defence.  I only spoke, of course, of the National Volunteers.  I was not entitled to speak for the Ulster Volunteers, but I suggested that they and we might work shoulder to shoulder.  From that day to this the War Office have persistently refused to have anything to say to these Volunteers.  The Prime Minister, a few days after I spoke, in answer to a question told me that the Government were considering at that moment how best to utilize these Volunteers.  They have never been utilized since.  A few days after I made my speech I went myself to the War Office, and as a result of my interviews there I submitted to the Government a scheme which would have provided them at once with 25,000 men.  If that offer had been accepted, not 25,000, not 50,000, but 100,000 men would have been enlisted for Home Defence within the month.  But no, it was obstinately refused.  I hear that an hon. member below me is now apparently inclined to take the point that the War Office took.  The War Office said that would interfere with recruiting in Ireland.  Of course, we know Ireland better than the hon. member.  We know our difficulties in Ireland.  We do not believe that it would.  On the contrary, we believe that it would have promoted recruiting.  We believe that the enlistment of these men, their association in barracks