Letter from Roger Casement, Berlin to Captain Hans Boehm, expressing concern about the formation of the Irish Brigade.

6.

been forthcoming. I have waited for months, and if today I judge wrongly that there is no real wish to aid the cause of Ireland, even were Germany successful in the war, my judgment is founded on and is being daily strengthened by the evidence of official indifference and lack of effort to carry out my views in things that can be successfully handled here in Germany, if sufficient interest existed.

I might refer particularly to the Irish soldiers in Limburg. Had these been handled in the right spirit we might, ere this, have had the Brigade formed. I will not go into details since you are already fully aware of the particular points I refer to; but will only say that no serious effort has been made to win their sympathies or to show them that Germany cared for their country and was prepared to receive them as volunteers to aid a just and a

7.

joint cause.

Instances of a similar character, all pointing to the absence of any interest in the welfare of Ireland, have inspired me to grave doubt as to how far I am justified, morally as to the Cause of my country and personally as to the future of the men themselves, in seeking to form an Irish Brigade at all.

I may fatally compromise Ireland with England and find, later on, that Germany will never lift a finger to aid my Country even if it lay in her power to do so.

I may put some hundreds of my poor countrymen who trust in my honour, good faith and leadership into the plight I am in myself. I committed high treason with my eyes open -- and for a cause I love above all else.

8.

I must some day pay the penalty -I do not mind that if I have helped Ireland. But I am not disposed to be the agent to put others, less enlightened perhaps than I am, into the terrible personal position I find myself in, unless I see clearly that Ireland gains something from this sacrifice and that the men themselves shall have the fullest guarantees that that sacrifice of theirs is not altogether in vain.

I have certain written guarantees in this regard as you are aware. It is not written agreement is lacking: it is the spirit of agreement, and of confidence on which alone agreement rests, I find most wanting.

If, as was said to me yesterday and as I have slowly and painfully

9.

gathered from other quarters, the German government "have no interest in Ireland at all" then I feel it would be a crime for me to go a step further in the matter.

With the exception of the three corporals now in Berlin, who have been irreparably compromised by the action of those who withdrew them openly from Limburg, the hearing of their fellows, no body save myself is "lost," and the rest of the men are not committed to anything. It may be best to leave it at that.

While I know now that I can form the Brigade if I choose, I am not disposed to sacrifice these men for an object the value of which to the German cause is obvious, unless I see with equal clearness that their sacrifice will bring political betterment later on to

10.

Ireland.

I see well that the public statement that the Irish soldiers have volunteered for service in the Irish Brigade will greatly influence public opinion in Ireland, in America --. (in Canada even) and elsewhere, and I see the great value of this to Germany during the war; but I do not equally see the value to Ireland, now or later as things stand between the German government and Irish nationality.

You would gain everything; we should give and perhaps lose all.

I am aware that this is in great part due to the military necessities of the German situation; but I am not sure (and it is here my doubts come in so strongly) that it is not equally due to the lack