Ireland was ‘betrayed’ before First World War ended

SEVERAL letters in favour of the Remembrance Day concert held in Cork City Hall on November 8 based their support for it on the understanding that the Irish Party supported the British government’s conduct of the war until it ended on November 11, 1918.

Such was not the case. On April 18, 1918 the Irish Party, having withdrawn from the House of Commons over the passing of a Military Service Act, joined with other Irish parties to issue a declaration from the Mansion House, Dublin.

The declaration stated that “the passing of the Conscription Bill by the British House of Commons must be regarded as a declaration of war on the Irish nation... It is in direct violation of the rights of small nationalities to self-determination which even the prime minister of England — now preparing to employ naked militarism and force his act upon Ireland — himself officially announced as an essential condition for peace at the (Paris) peace conference”.