Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 21 June 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Charles Clements

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Letter from Charles Clements, 5th Earl of Leitrim (1879-1952) 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. Clements commanded the Ulster Volunteer Force in County Donegal, and arranged to run guns into the county in his yacht, SS Ganiamore, in 1913. During the First World War, Clements was commissioned a major in the 11th Service Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Carson Papers, D1507/A/17/23 https://letters1916.ie/item/4329 English Charles Clements 1915 Endsleigh Palace Hospital, 25 Gordon Street, Endsleigh Gardens, London, England Edward Carson Male 1952 Politics Politics World War I (1914-1918)

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 D1507/1/17/23 89 Endsleigh Palace HospltalW.Leitrim June 21. 16. Dear Sir Edward I know many ofmy friends in the six counties, besidesthe three, distinctly understood, thatthe Unionist members in the Cabinetdesired that the pledge should bebroken, on the grounds of Imperialnecessity — It was several timesmentioned to me, that it was anextraordinary thing, that they shddo so, & the fact that haddone so, undoubtedly carriedgreat weight in coming to the 90 decision to carry out thenegotiations— As there seems to besome doubt, as to whether thiswas or was not the case,I have written the enclosedletter to Mr. Bonar Law — Yours sincerely Leitrim d1507/a/17/24 Copy Endsleigh Palace HospitalEuston 91PAGE 1 OF 2 June 21.16. Dear Mr Bonar Law Please forgive metroubling you with a letter, upon amatter, wh concerns me deeply — For the last 21 months I have beenserving with the Ulster Division, h Imay say was mainly recruited, on thestrength of the Prime Minister's pledge,that Home Rule would not be broughtup again during the war— As the leader of the Unionistparty in the House of Commons, youassisted in this pledge being given,but you may not realise all that 92 this pledge means to the men nowfighting — It does not only meanthe political significance of Home Rule,but also means the deepest anxietyupon the part of these men for thesafety of their homes — Rightly or wrongly they believethat there will be riots & bloodshedupon Home Rule being put intooperation, & after what has happenedI think these fears are justified. I well recollect at thetime of our recruiting meetings, thePrime Minister's pledge, as wellas the Defence of the Realm Act,were quoted to assure them D1507/1/17/24 93 PAGE 2 0F 2 that they should have no fears forthe safety of their homes, whilstthey were on service —I cannot say how stronglyI feel, that you should holdyourself in honour bound torespect that pledge — You cannot overestimatethe value in wh It is held, by thosemen, who are now, many of them,going about to sacrifice theirlives because it was given. — Endsleigh Palace Hospital, 25 Gordon Street, Endsleigh Gardens, London, England Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 21 June 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 29 June 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 1 July 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 3 July 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 Charles Clements Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 21 June 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 29 June 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 1 July 1916Letter from Charles Clements to Edward Carson, 3 July 1916