Causes of the Easter Rising: British Inaction

Question 1

The difficulty faced by Sir NATHAN FUCBOI

Answer 1

Big Nathan had a long list of extremists including Rising organizers. But he faced a “choice of evils”:

> Leave the Extremists be and believe the RIC that they had few followers.
Clamp down further from their current supression of “Irish Freedom” paper, which could be counter-intuitive in “weakening the orthodox Home Rulers”. (Lyons)

Question 2

The role of intelligence gathering

Answer 2

> Birrell: “Actual menace” in the air in Ireland
Director of Military Intelligence reported German messages about gun shipments (The Aud)
Increased activity of the Irish Volunteers recognised

> BUT The intelligence led the British to believe that it was Rodger Casement who was the organiser of the Rising. After capturing him they felt that the rising had been adverted. “British intelligence concluded the danger had passed” (Bartlett)

Question 3

Complacency of the British

Answer 3

> Nathan: “I do not believe that its leaders intend insurrection”.
The Army Commander went on leave during Easter despite intelligence reports, and army officers went to the races.

Meanwhile

Intelligence Officer: WHAT THE FUCK THERE IS NO DOUBT A REBELLION IS IMMINENT!

Question 4

MacNeill’s statement

Answer 4

• “Volunteers completely deceived. All orders for to-morrow Sunday are entirely cancelled”
• Countermanding order to Sunday Independent
• MacNeill had been deceived; Castle document had been forged (Threat of arrest), and the British captured the Aud with 20,000 guns (Lyons- The crux of the matter)
• British saw the order and believed the Rising was off

Question 5

Ree’s view

Answer 5

“British policy was “Remarkably relaxed”