April 11th, 1918

FROM THE ARCHIVES:The initial success of the German offensive in spring 1918 panicked the British government into announcing conscription in Ireland while raising the age of military service in Britain to 50. The move was welcomed by The Irish Timesin this leader, and was a significant factor in securing Sinn Féin's subsequent electoral success. – JOE JOYCE

THE GOVERNMENT intention to enforce military service in Ireland is no longer open to question. Sir George Cave and Mr. Bonar Law stated yesterday in most emphatic terms that its decision is deliberate and final.

The Irish clause is not “a pious expression of opinion,” and Mr. Law indicated that the Government would treat Parliament’s rejection of it as a vote of want of confidence. Sir George Cave hopes that the clause will raise at least ten divisions (200,000 men) in Ireland, though he said that it would be justified by the raising of even five divisions. Mr. Law thinks that our contribution may easily exceed ten divisions.

The Government does not seem to anticipate any serious trouble in the operation of the Act; at any rate, it is resolved to suppress trouble with a firm hand. It does not believe that an army will be required to enforce the operation of the Irish clause, and it contemplates no necessity of any substantial addition to the considerable forces which are now in this country.

We hope that the Irish people will now accept the fait accompli, and that there will be an end of threatening and violent language from the Nationalist Party and the Nationalist Press. If Mr. Dillon will listen to an Irish Unionist paper, we shall put our case for his acceptance of conscription on three grounds – law, honour and expediency. On the ground of law, the British Parliament's right to enforce conscription in Ireland is indefeasible to-day, and would be indefeasible under any form of self-government which this country can ever hope to enjoy.

We urge Mr. Dillon and his colleagues to realise that the country which we all love will be disgraced for ever if she fails to take her stand with the free nations of the world. We warn Mr. Dillon that his action now must decide the fate of the cause to which he has devoted his talents and energies. The synchronism of the Government’s conscription proposals with its announcement of an Irish Home Rule Bill is a coincidence, due to the date of the Irish Convention’s report; but that coincidence carries very important consequences. It makes Irish loyalty a test of Ireland’s worthiness for Home Rule.

If Ireland is not asked to help England to-day, said Mr. Law – a fortiori, if she is asked and refuses with disloyal menaces – the last hope of Home Rule vanishes. We urge Mr. Dillon to realise this solemn truth, and to try to realise that he deceives himself when he thinks that America and Australia sympathise with his denial of Ireland’s duty to the Allies.