1 STATION, CULTRA.
TELEGRAMS, CRAIGAVAD.
TELEPHONE, CRAIGAVAD, 18. Confidential CULLODEN,
CRAIGAVAD,
CO. DOWN. June 28.1916 My dear Sir Edward With reference to the resolution
passed by the Irish Church Bishops,
I think, you ought to know some
of the circumstances. I was
not at the meeting, as by reason
of my engagements The summons
did not reach me in Time ,— it
was hastily summoned — but I know
what happened. Most of our Bishops are of
the other three Provinces, & they, like
other Southern Unionists, feel aggrieved
at the revival of The Home Rule
question during the war. Also, it
must be confessed, most of them
do not like the exclusion of Ulster.
They were determined to pass a
resolution & it was clear that,
being a majority, they could pass
any resolution they pleased. 2 It was due to the very strong
influence of the Primate that
the resolution passed took
the shape it did, & not one
which would have been
much more unfavourable to
the proposed settlement. As regards the exclusion
of Ulster, if the settlement goes
through, it will certainly — in my
opinion — receive the support of
the Bishops in the excluded area.
The Primate, the Bishop of Derry,
& myself, are those specially
affected ; & I know you
can rely on our support. I write on my own responsibility
entirely & without consultation
with any other Bishop. But I think
You ought to know the position. Yours very faithfully Charles F. Down