1 BalisPress refund & Irish Divisions 4th December, 1915. Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Carson, K. C., M. P.,
5, Eaton Place,
London, S. W. Private & Confidential. Dear Sir Edward, At a Meeting held on 12th November of the
City and County of Dublin Recruiting Committee of Ireland,
the following resolution was passed:- "That in the opinion of this Committee
"an Irish Press Representative should be appoint-
"ed to accompany the Irish Division so that a
"full Report of their deeds might receive publicity. "My committee feel that if arrangements
"could be made to give publicity to the deeds of the
"Irish Regiments of which full Reports should appear
"in the Irish papers, it would be a great stimulus
"to recruiting". This was moved by Sir Maurice Dockrell, and
seconded by Mr. J. C. Percy, practically the only two ;Unionists
on the Committee, and certainty in respect regard to of Mr. Percy, his
Unionism is of a very doubtful quantity. This resolution was forwarded to the War Office,
and I understand, from strictly private sources, that the War 2 Sir Edward Carson, 4/12/15.
Office passed it on to the Press Committee for their views
thereon, suggesting that to adopt such a course asked for in
the resolution would involve similar applications on behalf
of other Divisions, and suggesting the possibility that under
the circumstances special instructions might be given to the
various press representatives to call special attention to the doings
of the Irish Regiments. They further asked the Press Committee
for an expression of opinion as to the expediency of the whole
thing. . I do not know what is the result at the present time. 3 With regard to the resolution And the reference made
to the Press Committee, this cannot be made public, but what I
would like to know from you is whether or not it would be
possible to get any of your friends on the "Daily Telegraph",
"Morning Post" or "Express" - many of whose reports reporters are very
friendly to the Ulster Division - to give instructions to their
reporters that, notwithstanding any instructions they may have 4 Sir Edward Carson, 4/12/15.
from the Press Committee following on the resolution, that
they should give similar publicity to the doings of the Ulster
Division. I would also like to ask your opinion whether or
not it would be advisable that the Recruiting Committee in
Belfast should pass a resolution on the lines of that already
passed in Dublin as if the permission I have mentioned above
is given in connection with the Irish Divisions, it should
also be given to the Ulster Divisions. I do not, however, want to take any step of this
sort in regard to having a resolution passed, without having
your sanction and approval. Yours very truly, R Dawson Salin