1 D1507/A/16/8 COPY Lord Major of
Belfast 1906 CITY HALL,
Belfast.

8th May, 1916
Sir I have just learned that a suggestion has been made
that a Proclamation should be issued directing that all Arms
in Ireland should forthwith be delivered up to the Crown and
as I am satisfied an attempt to enforce such a Proclamation
would be fraught with great risk to the peace I have deemed
it my duty as Lord Mayor of the City and responsible to a very
large extent for its peace to intimate my views to you. I have occupied the position of Lord Mayor for over
2 years. I have also occupied the position of Hon. Director
for Recruiting in Ulster and in both capacities I have come
into contact with not only Belfast but Ulster opinion. Since the beginning of the war Belfast and Ulster
have practically ceased their political and religious wrangles
and their energies have been devoted to the production of
Munitions and at the same time Belfast and the district have
contributed toward the fighting forces of the Empire in round
figures about 60,000 men. There are undoubtedly Arms in this district but
outside the Arms which would be covered by the Proclamation
already in force with regard to the Sinn Feiners I am
satisfied there are no Arms held by anyone with any disloyal
motive. If an order is made now to have all Arms delivered
up, I fear an attempt to enforce it would very possibly lead
to disturbance as it would be looked upon by the population
that they were being punished for the offence of the Sinn Feiners 2 with whom they have had no connection and which movement has
had their strongest disapproval. Throughout the excitement of the past few weeks
Ulster has retained its normal condition and has been able in
many other ways to assist and relieve both Military and Police
for the establishment of peace in the disaffected areas in
other parts of the Country. Anything that would disturb the
feeling of confidence and rest that now exists will be very
dangerous not only so far as the peace of the district is
concerned but also so far as the supply of munitions is
concerned. To show the interest which the population here has
taken in the latter work I may say that although the resent
disturbances took place during the Easter holidays the return
of labour after the holidays in the Belfast Shipyards and
Engineering Works never was so good as at the present time.
The people here are intensely loyal and I would deplore very
much anything that would cause a revival of either religious
or political animosity at the present time, as I am satisfied
action such as suggested would do. So far as the safety and peace of the country are
concerned, there is no necessity for anything of the kind and
I sincerely trust that in the steps taken to put down the
rebellion nothing will be done which would interfere with or
reflect in any way upon the loyalty of those who stand for the
King and Constitution. I have felt so uneasy since I heard the rumour 3 referred to, as to what the effect of it would be, that I have
deemed it my duty to confer with the principal people in this
district dealing with the working-class population and the views
which I have expressed above are their views also. They further
express the view, in which I agree, that this is not a matter
in which the poeple would be willing to follow the view of any
political leader. I am not, however, writing from the political
aspect at all; I am only writing from the point of view of the
peace of the City and the district and I feel satisfied that
that peace and willingness to serve the Empire which now exist
will not be helped forward by any interference with the peaceable
and law-abiding subjects such as is rumoured. I have the honour to remain,
Your obedient servant
(Signed) CRAWFORD M'CULLAGH,
LORD MAYOR. The Rt. Hon. H. H. Asquith, M.P.,
10, Downing Street,
LONDON, S.W.