[The Continental Times 20 November 1914]

Statement by German Foreign Office

Ireland and the War

The well known Irish nationalist Sir Roger Casement who has arrived in Berlin from the United States has been received at the Foreign Office.

Sir Roger Casement pointed out that statements were being published in Ireland apparently with the authority of the British Government behind them, to the effect that a German victory would inflict great loss upon the Irish people, whose homes, churches, priests and lands would be at the mercy of an invading army actuated only by motives of pillage and conquest.

Recent utterances of Mr. Redmond on his recruiting tour in Ireland and many pronouncements of the British press in Ireland to the above effect have been widely circulated, Sir Roger pointed out, and have caused natural apprehension among Irishmen as to the German attitude towards Ireland in the event of a German victory in the present war.

Sir Roger sought a convincing statement of German intentions towards Ireland that might reassure his countrymen all over the world, and particularly in Ireland and America, in view of these disquieting statements emanating from responsible British quarters.

In reply to this request the acting Secretary of State at the Foreign Office by order of the Imperial Chancellor has made the following official declaration.

The German Government repudiates the evil intentions attributed to it in the statements referred to by Sir Roger Casement and takes this opportunity to give a categoric assurance that the German Government desires only the welfare of the Irish people, their country and their institutions.

The Imperial Government formally declares that under no circumstances would Germany invade Ireland with a view to its conquest or the overthrow of any native institutions in that country.

Should the fortune of this great war, that was not of Germany’s seeking, ever bring in its course German troops to the shores of Ireland, they would land there not as an army of invaders to pillage and destroy but as the forces of a Government that is inspired by good will towards a country and a people for whom Germany desires only national prosperity and national freedom.

From NLI MS 1689:

	The “Continental News” [should be Continental Times] of Friday also has the declaration in full. I give it here too. I have asked the Foreign Office to order 3.000 EXTRA copies of the edition of the paper for the Irish soldiers later on.

“Continental News” of Friday, 20 Nov 1914

Berlin, November 20, 1914.
	The well known Irish Nationalist, Sir Roger Casement, who has arrived in Berlin from the United States, has been received at the Foreign Office. 
	Sir Roger Casement pointed out that statements were being published in Ireland, apparently with the authority of the British Government behind them, to the effect that a German victory would inflict great loss upon the Irish people, whose homes, churches, priests, and lands would be at the mercy of an invading army actuated only by motives of pillage and conquest. Recent utterances of Mr. Redmond on his recruiting tour in Ireland and many pronouncements of the British Press in Ireland to the above effect have been widely circulated, Sir Roger pointed out, and have caused natural apprehension among Irishmen as to the German attitude towards Ireland in the event of a German victory in the present war.
	Sir Roger sought a convincing statement of German intentions towards Ireland that might reassure his country men all over the world, and particularly in Ireland and America, in view of these disquieting statements emanating from responsible British quarters.
	In reply to this Inquiry????REQUEST, the Acting Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, by order of the Imperial Chancellor, has made the following official declaration:

Official Statement
The German Government repudiates the evil intentions attributed to it in the statements referred to by Sir Roger Casement, and takes this opportunity to give a categoric assurance that the German Government desires only the welfare of the Irish people, their country, and their institutions.
The Imperial Government formally declares that under no circumstances would Germany invade Ireland with a view to its conquest or the overthrow of any native institutions in that country.
Should the fortune of this great war, that was not of Germany's seeking, ever bring in its course German troops to the shores of Ireland, they would land there, not as an army of invaders to pillage and destroy, but as the forces of a Government that is inspired by goodwill towards a country and a people for whom Germany desires only national prosperity and national freedom.