Copy of a letter from John Crozier to Edward Carson, 9 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 John Baptist Crozier

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Copy of a letter from John Baptist Crozier (1853–1920) to Edward Carson (1854-1935). Carson was a prominent Unionist Politician. Originally a practicing solicitor from Dublin, Carson's opposition to the proposed third Home Rule bill made him the figure head of Unionism throughout the island. He was the centerpiece of the speaking tour that culminated in Ulster Day (28 September 1912), when just under half a million signed Ulster's solemn league and covenant pledging to use ‘all means which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to set up a home rule parliament in Dublin’. Carson inaugurated the Larne gunrunning in 1914 which armed the UVF, many of whom Carson would encourage to join the British Army throughout the First World War. Crozier was a Church of Ireland clergyman who served as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland from 1911–1920.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Carson Papers, D1507/A/16/12 https://letters1916.ie/item/4311 English John Baptist Crozier 1916-05-09 Edward Carson Male 1920 Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Politics Country and City Life

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 D1507/A/16/12 Dr Croziers memosent to Sir Edward May 7th 1916& forwarded to Mr Asquith P.M. Page 1 of 2 Original letters & mem with 1934 Nothing but the keenest sense of duty would induce me to writeto you on this matter, and the fear that men who do not know theNorth of Ireland may make a terrible blunder at this seriouscrisis in our National life. (1) There is more than a rumour that a proposal will be madeto disarm the Ulster Volunteers. (2) As one who knows Ireland thoroughlyI would say thatwhen the Rebellion broke out in Dublin, Meath, Wexford, Galway andelsewhere; the Loyalists of Ireland knew that if it succeeded, itwould be a Revolution — and in the lonely Northern outposts — inCavan, Tywne Tyrone Monaghan and elsewhere the fears of the Loyalists wereallayed by the knowledge that their fellow Loyalists in Belfast Stwere armed and would come to their aid. (3) And an attempted disarmament now would spread terroramongst these scattered Loyal folk — whose only fault is theirloyalty! (4) Large numbers of these people have nobly given their sonsand brothers to the service of the King — and this in spite of theknowledge that others all around them equally fit for service hadno intention of offering themselves. (5) Again everyone who is in touch with Irish life knowsthat before very long the extreme section of the Nationalist partywill be fully armed again and it is not, I suppose, intended that(as in the case of a previous Rebellion in Ireland) the Loyalistsshould be left unarmed To the vengeance of others. (6) The Ulster men have covered themselves with glory bytheir calmness and readiness to help the Government in this crisis, D1507/A/16/12 Page 2 of 2 2 crisis, and this calmness is chiefly due to the fact that they trusttheir leaders and are under splendid control. (7) To attempt to disarm them now would be so flagrantlyunjust that I think no power in earth could prevent a rising anda general strike in Belfast — an awful alternative for every reason;and a red ruin to the Muniment works and shipping industry. (8) Lastly, though I could say much more, it would be lookedupon by our great Ulster Division serving in France as a hideoustravesty of Justice. They have left their wives and childrentrusting to the faith of their comrades who stay behind to look afterand protect them; they never relied in help or kindness or protectionfrom Mr. Birrell and those with him — they relied on the fact thatthey left behind them men who would sacrifice their lives in theirdefence. This war in Ireland has stirred these men to the depth of theirhearts. They have seen now, what they knew long ago, the imminentdanger Ireland was in because of England's extremity. To disturbnow the only confidence of these men at the front, would be to run arisk no sane man ought to dare to face. [This and the next page are copies of the 2 previous pages.] [This and the previous page are copies of the first 2 pages.] John Baptist Crozier Copy of a letter from John Crozier to Edward Carson, 9 May 1916Letter from John Crozier to Edward Carson, 26 June 1916 Edward Carson Letter from David Lloyd George to Edward Carson, 29 May 1916Letter from Sir Dawson Bates to Edward Carson, 2 December 1915Letter from William Robert Young to Edward Carson, 9 July 1916Letter from Alexander McDowell to Edward Carson, 20 July 1916Letter from Hugh de Fellenerg Montgomery to Edward Carson, 31 May 1916Letter from Hugh de Fellenberg Montgomery to Edward Carson, 9 June 1916Letter from Hugh de Fellenberg Montgomery to Edward Carson, 9 June 1916Letter from Frederick Hugh Crawford to Edward Carson, 8 March 1916Letter from Edward Carson to Thomas McGregor Greer, 12 July 1916Letter from Sir Edward Carson to Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, 10 December 1915Letter to Edward Carson, 19 November 1915Letter from William R. Young to Edward Carson, 2 November 1915Letter from J.M. Wilson to Edward Carson, 3 November 1915Letter from Turner Oliver Read to Edward Carson, 12 November 1915Letter from William R. Young to Edward Carson, 12 November 1915Letter from Harold Tennant to Edward Carson, 17 November 1915Letter from Henry Mulholland to Pembroke Wicks, circa November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Edward Carson, 25 November 1915Letter Wilfrid Spender to Edward Carson, 3 December 1915Letter to Edward Carson, 4 December 1915Letter from Robert Thompson to Edward Carson, 18 December 1915Letter from W.T. Bailey to Edward Carson, 22 December 1915Letter from General Nevil Macready to Edward Carson, 1 May 1916Letter to Edward Carson, 2 May 1916Letter from Horace Plunkett to Edward Carson, 4 May 1916Postcard to Edward Carson, 4 May 1916Letter from D.P. Barton to Edward Carson, 5 May 1916Letter from Edward Carson to Herbert Asquith, 9 May 1916Letter from Herbert Asquith to Edward Carson, 10 May 1916Copy of a letter from John Crozier to Edward Carson, 9 May 1916Letter from J.M. Wilson to Edward Carson, 11 May 1916Letter to Edward Carson, 15 May 1916Letter from David Lloyd George to Edward Carson, 3 June 1916Letter from G.L. Moore to Edward Carson, 6 June 1916Letter from sir William Robert Robertson to Edward Carson, 7 June 1916Letter from Nevil Macready to Edward Carson, 8 June 1916Letter from Arthur Warren Samuels to Edward Carson, 14 June 1916Letter from Frederick Stringer Wrench to Edward Carson, 15 June 1916Letter from Somerset Francis Saunderson to Edward Carson, 15 June 1916Letter to Edward Carson, 17 June 1916Letter from Somerset Francis Saunderson to Edward Carson, 17 June 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 21 June 1916Letter from Ronald McNeill to Edward Carson, 22 June 1916Letter from John Crozier to Edward Carson, 26 June 1916Letter from Charles F. Down to Edward Carson, 28 June 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 29 June 1916Letter from Archibald Salvidge to Edward Carson, 30 June 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 1 July 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 3 July 1916Letter to Edward Carson, 5 July 1916Letter from Horace Plunkett to Edward Carson, 5 July 1916Letter from Charles F Down to Edward Carson, 8 June 1916Letter from Herbert Samuel to Edward Carson, 13 July 1916Letter from William Martin to Edward Carson, 13 July 1916Letter from Travers R. Blackley to Edward Carson, 11 July 1916Letter from Travers R. Blackley to Edward Carson, 13 July 1916Letter from Pembroke Wicks to Edward Carson, 14 July 1916Letter from Somerset Francis Saunderson to Edward Carson, 15 July 1916Letter from Edward Carson to William Martin, 17 July 1916Letter from Herbert Samuel to Edward Carson, 21 July 1916Letter to Edward Carson, 21 July 1916Letter from John Strachey to Edward Carson, 27 July 1916Letter from Alexander McDowell to Edward Carson, 5 October 1916Letter to Edward Carson, 7 October 1916Letter from Sharman D Neill to Edward Carson, 7 October 1916Letter from John Strachey to Edward Carson, 7 October 1916Letter from Rosalind Hamilton to Edward Carson, 10 October 1916Letter to Edward Carson, 14 October 1916Letter from David Lloyd George to Edward Carson, 14 October 1916Letter from J. Beatty to Edward Carson, 16 October 1916Letter from Edward Carson to Richard Dawson Bates, 21 April 1919