1 Copy 11th June, 1916. My dear Canon, I send you back your Republican newspaper, as you may
wish to keep it among your curiosities or give it to someone else. The present position about the exclusion of Ulster is
not pleasant; but in view of the state of things as revealed to
us privately by Sir Edward Carson and Colonel Craig, I believe
we ought if possible to profess our readiness to agree to the
six county scheme, and I believe that, though this would look
like a forsaking of our brother Govenanters in Monaghan, Cavan
and Donegall that they would really be safer on the borders of a
secure six county Ulster than inside the very insecure citadel
of a nine county Ulster: I say insecure because the Nationalists
would form too strong a body inside the nine counties, being
able as it is to return a majority of parliamentary representatives.
It appears to be a mad act of the Government at this moment to
propose to bring the Home Rule Act into operation for any part
of Ireland, and I hope that if we agree to acquiesce in the six
Counties scheme we shall make it very clear that we do not
approve, and take no responsibility for any such setting up
of Home Rule immediately after the Rebellion. Yours very truly,