A proof of the unhappy lack of comprehension is furnished by the second sentence I have quoted.  General Parsons had been most rightly allowed by the War Office to assist in selecting officers for the Division.  But it had never occurred to either party to consult Redmond on this critical matter.  Does anyone suppose that Sir Edward Carson had no voice in the staffing of the Ulster Division?  He had at all events received from the first a clear promise that all professional soldiers who had been officers in the Ulster Volunteers would be officers in the Division, and that any who had been mobilized should be restored to their associates in the Division.

General Parsons brought to this whole matter the fine principle that no man’s religious or political beliefs should stand in his way.  He omitted to consider the effect produced on the situation by the fact that the Ulster Division had been actually allowed to exclude all Catholics, as such, and to accept no officer who was not politically in sympathy with Unionist Ulster.  Redmond had not the least wish to exclude either Protestants or Unionists; he wanted all Irishmen on an equality.  But he was bound by common sense and by a perception of realities to desire that Protestants and Unionists should not appear to monopolize the command.

Not one of the three brigadiers appointed was generally known in Ireland, personally or by his connections.  One was an Englishman.  Of the officers originally appointed not one in five was a Catholic.  No Catholic commanded a battalion, scarcely half a dozen were field officers.  The only Catholic field officer appointed to the Division who had been prominently connected with the Volunteers was Lord Fingall, and he had severed his connection with that body.

All this was a terrible blunder.  Whether it was wise or unwise to allow the formation of a division having the peculiar character of the Ulster Division may be argued—­but certainly Redmond never took exception to it, and no man who ever saw these Ulstermen in the field can regret its inception.  But once it was formed, its existence created a situation which had to be recognized.  An equivalent ought to have been given; but no genuine attempt to do this was made.

In replying to Sir Lawrence Parsons, Redmond raised no controversy as to what had been done; he was, indeed, not cognizant of the facts.  But he addressed himself from the first to making friendly suggestions.

Amongst other things he referred to an appeal which Sir Lawrence Parsons had addressed to the women of Ireland, that they should provide regimental colours for the battalions of the Division.  This appeal was promptly met, to Redmond’s great delight—­delight which was soon changed into vexation, for the War Office stepped in, declared the proceeding irregular, and prohibited the holding of colours by any temporary battalion.  General Parsons was obliged to publish an explanation which must have been galling to himself, and which went far to confirm the impression that the War Office, with all its preoccupations, had time to keep an unfriendly eye on the Nationalist recruiting effort.