The Historical Journal

Table of Contents - 01 September 1974 - Volume 17, Issue 03  

Articles

British Opinion, Ireland, and the War, 1916–1918*

David G. Boycea1

a1 University College of Swansea

In the January 1916 issue of the Nineteenth Century the Reverend Robert H. Murray contributed the first of two articles on Irish insurrectionary movements during the wars with France at the end of the eighteenth century. He prefaced his text with some homilies directed at the British government of his ow n time:

During the early months of the present War the prospects of the invasion of these islands by sea as well as by air were discussed and prepared for by naval and military authorities. As the struggle developed month by month there has been less discussion of such contingencies. The magnificent work of our Fleet has lulled us into a complete sense of security. We do not foresee an attack upon the East Coast of England: we have almost forgotten our fears with regard to the West Coast of Ireland.

Footnotes

* I wish to acknowledge the kind permission of the First Beaverbrook Foundation to quote material from the Bonar Law and Lloyd George papers; of the Librarian of Birmingham University for the Austen Chamberlain papers; and of H.M.S.O. for Cabinet minutes and papers.