Letter from Hugh de Fellenberg Montgomery to Waldron, 26 June 1916

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from Hugh de Fellenberg Montgomery to Waldron, 26 June 1916

1 Copy 26th June 1916. Dear Mr. Waldron, I am much obliged for your interesting letter, part
of which I entirely agree with. I do not believe the Lloyd
Geroge arrangement could possibly come into actual operation;
but a situation has been created which may enable Redmond to
maintain his position as leader of the majority of Irish
Nationalists in Ireland, Great Britain and America for the
present, and from the point of view of the Cabinet, and in
view of Redmond's professed loyalty to the Empire for the
purposes of the present way, this is a considerable gain.
What the ultimate consequences will be is another matter;
but our present rulers are not able to rise above a hand-
to-mouth policy. Very likely Redmond will not be in any desparate
hurry to bring the negotiations with Carson to an end, His
real difficulty will begin when he actually has to set up
a Government. I should think that as soon as he does he
will have to deal with a fresh Rebellion. I am with you in taking a decidedly gloomy view of
the future of this country. Yours very truly,

This letter was written by Hugh de Fellenberg Montgomery (1844-1924). Montgomery was a lawyer and politician. Originally a Liberal and a strong supporter of Gladstone, Montgomery was also a firm Unionist, but by 1916 he believed that Ulster Unionists had no choice but to accept Lloyd George's proposal for a six-county Northern Ireland. In the letter Montgomery is discussing the leadership of John Redmond (1856-1918). Montgomery believes that a situation has developed which may allow Redmond to maintain his position as leader of the majority of 'Irish Nationalists in Ireland, Great Britain and America'. Redmond was a nationalist MP and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party. On the outbreak of the Great War Redmond had called on Irishmen to support the war effort and enlist in the British army. Montgomery considers this development a considerable gain as Redmond professes loyalty to the Empire for the purposes of the First World War. However, Montgomery foresees difficulties for Redmond when negotiations eventually come to an end and Redmond will have to set up a government. Montgomery believes that this will result in another rebellion.

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How to cite

Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__2261.html)