Letter from E. F. Batty to Robert Chalmers, 17 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 E. F. Batty

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This letter was written by E. F. Batty to the under-secretary of Ireland. In this letter Batty argues in favour of arming the police force of Dublin, and handing over control of that force to the government for the duration of the war, in light of the recent events of Easter Week. Batty believes that this move would maintain law and order in Dublin while also restoring confidence. The letter is addressed to the under-secretary, which at this time is Sir Robert Chalmers (1858-1938). Chalmers was sent to Ireland as under-secretary, replacing Sir Matthew Nathan who had resigned along with Augustine Birrell, his chief secretary following the Easter Rising in 1916.

 National Archives of Ireland Chief Secretary's Office Registered Papers, CSO RP/1916/5611/8530/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/366 English E. F. Batty 1916-05-17 2 Isabella Place, Bath, England Robert Chalmers Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 2 Issabella Place Combe Down Bath May 17th 1916 7425 Private To the Under Secretary Dublin Castle Sir I suppose that there is some secretary to attend to letters it at present though there is no regular Irish Government now — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th of May & to point out that my name is EF BATTY. I fear I do not always write it sufficiently distinctly It might lead to some mistake if you read it wrong I presume your letter is a mere form - sent to hundreds but in case it is not I beg to say I did not offer my services - though if on the spot I would have been glad to be of use — you might just run your henthough the route of the offer It is a friendly hint that I should have done so I must mention I am 53 and short sighted & have never handled a rifle. I want to make a non political suggestion that only occurred to me today If Dublin had been policed by the RIC the late events could not have taken so serious a turn & the prob lem would have been far less — Would it not be a good thing if during the war the control of the Policing of Dublin was in the hands of the Government & not the Corporation — and if the Police force was (like the RIC) mostly trained to the use of the Rifle All are interested in the maintenance of law & order & I think it would tend to restore confidence — It might be well to leave someof the police force unarmed but most of them would I expect be fit to train as RIC are trained (for town watch anyway) It might or might not be well to combine the two forces -(So far as armed) The safety of Dublin is the main point & this would seem to tend to it. There is no reason why in this way a considerable body properly armed trained & under the control of the Government should not be added to the forces available in the safety of Dublin. Armed Police would seemingly have been able to prevent many of the places being seized & much of the damage & left things far easier for the soldiers to deal with. Your Obed. Serv. EF Batty PS There may be members of Police Force - all right unarmed who it would not be well to arm E. F. Batty Letter from E. F. Batty to the Under-Secretary for Ireland, 4 May 1916Letter from E. F. Batty to Robert Chalmers, 17 May 1916 2 Isabella Place, Bath, England Letter from E. F. Batty to Robert Chalmers, 17 May 1916