Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 29 June 1916

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from John Dillon to John Redmond, 29 June 1916

1 2, North Gt. George's Street,
Dublin.
Monday
29 June 1916 My dear Redmond You have — I assume —
received a meline from
Bonham Carter asking
you to cross tonight. The message reached me
about 6 o'c — and I
replied that it was 2
not possible for me to
cross tonight. I do not like the look
of things at all —
and I have no doubt
that this somewhat
persumptuous summons
is further purpose
of demanding some
large concession from
us — to enable 3 the P.M. to keep
the Cabinet together.
I am not disposed to
go before Tuesday
morning. I confess I resent
being summoned over
in this peremptory
fashion without a
word of explanation.
Since these negotiations 4 commenced the P.M.
has not communicated
with us directly or
indirectly — and now
that the Tories have
kicked — that we
should be suddenly
summoned without a
hint of what we
are required for is
more than I am
prepared to stomach MS 15.182/23/4(1) 5 As for representation of
Southern Unionists in the
Senate — George knows
we are prepared to
agree to any reasonable
proposal in this direction —
And it does not
need to drag us to
London to discuss that
matter — A letter would 6 do. As at present advised—
and unless some fresh
information change my
mind — I shall not
cross till Tuesday. Yours Sincerely John Dillon I read the article in
the D. Mail — It is 7 extremely good. If Asquith had
any back bone —
and if Carson means
honestly — the settlement
could be put this. But I confess
that the London in this
days Belfast news-letter
makes me suspect
that Carson is 8 playing a double game
and if he is — the
settlement cannot
go through.

A letter from John Dillon (1851-1927) to John Redmond (1856-1918). Dillon writes to Redmond about a summons they received from Herbert Henry Asquith, the British Prime Minister. Dillon is clearly angered at the vagueness of the request and decides he will not travel until the next week. John Redmond was an MP and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He was instrumental in securing the promise of Home Rule from Asquith's liberal government. Upon the outbreak of war, Redmond addressed a group of Irish Volunteers at Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow, encouraging them to fight with the British Army to ensure the implementation of Home Rule. Redmond's words split the Irish Volunteers across the country. The Easter Rising shocked Redmond, who condemned it bitterly. Nonetheless he appealed for leniency towards those who had not been involved in planning the Rising. John Dillon was an Irish Party M.P. in the House of Commons. Dillon issued a speech in the House on 11 May 1916 where he strongly condemned the British handling of the Rising which had been put down “with so much blood and so much savagery”, and called for an immediate end to executions. Dillon would succeed John Redmond as leader of the Home Rule party in 1918.

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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__3488.html)