Letter from Somerset Francis Saunderson to Edward Carson, 15 June 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Somerset Francis Saunderson

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Letter from Somerset Francis Saunderson (1868-1927) 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. Saunderson was the first born son of Edward James Saunderson, leader of the Irish Unionist Party for much of its existence.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Carson Papers, D1507/A/17/17 https://letters1916.ie/item/4323 English Somerset Francis Saunderson 1916-06-15 5 Wilton Place, S.W., London, England Edward Carson Politics Politics Industry and Public Administration

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 from E. Saunderson June 15th.16. PAGE 1 OF 3 5,WILTON PLACE, S.W. My dear Carson, The proceedings on Monday left me among many others with the impression that we had been Sold & betrayed by our Leaders in the Coalition by reopening the Home Rule Question during the continuance of the war & by putting it to us on the grounds that an immediate settlement was necessary for the successful conduct of the war, a reason which in my humble opinion from the moment I heard it was in plain language "bunk'um". One of those Leaders is an old friend of mine & a man who in my opinion has always been a straight & honest gentleman. I could not believe in his being a party to a betrayal of those whom he once led in the fight against Home Rule. Walter Long is of course the man. I went to see him this morning & I now learn that Lloyd Georges proposals were never & have never been before the Cabinet. Walter Long himself & he is not alone in his opinion cannot see any reason connected with the conduct of the war for experimenting with a Home Rule Parliament in the present condition of Ireland. PAGE 2 Of 3 Nor was Lloyd George authorised to make proposals entailing such an experiment. The idea was that he should try & get all parties in Ireland to agree to the provisions of the amending act so that the Home Rule Bill could come into operation at the end of the war in such a shape as to avoid strife & bloodshed in Ireland. After seeing Walter today I called at your house & was told you will be back on Saturday. Could you spare me a few moments on Sunday morning. I think it is important that I should see you. Arthur Farnham went back to France today & I represent his views also & I have received Walter Long's permission to tell you a good deal in confidence that I cannot write. Please leave a message with your servant what will be a convenient time for you to see me & I will call at your house for it on Saturday Yours Sincerely SomersetSaunderson. PAGE 3 OF 3 With regard to the question of Walter Long resigning. I am quite sure that he will do so unless it is made clear that he was not a party to forcing us to accept Home Rule now, & I surmise that Lloyd George will have to make the admission that his proposals had never been before the Cabinet. as he led us to understand. Unless I hear to the contrary I will call at your house on Tues.12 12 o'c. Yours ever SomersetSaunderson Somerset Francis Saunderson Letter from Somerset Francis Saunderson to Edward Carson, 15 June 1916Letter from Somerset Francis Saunderson to Edward Carson, 17 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 5 Wilton Place, S.W., London, England Letter from Somerset Francis Saunderson to Edward Carson, 15 June 1916Letter from Somerset Francis Saunderson to Edward Carson, 15 July 1916