Fragment of a letter from Roger Casement to [Robert Donovan ?], discussing the Liberals; Home Rule; Balfour's proposals; and redistribution. ✔

Liberals to approving the reduction of Irish representation on the very grounds Irish men put forward - the Act of Union and the population test as well.

Asquith has written the preface to Herbert Samuel's book - so he can, consistently, be held to support this view it's a matter of fact many of the Liberals (including I fancy Haldane & possibly Asquith)

proposals against Ireland and will be delighted to see them carried.

It will lessen the weight of one embarrassment which pressed on the Liberal party - viz - the Home Rule incubus.

They have no intention of giving Home Rule -

[p. 3]

not even of "wanting one Session in discussing it, as one of their learned men told me a short time ago.

Campbell Bennerman will {struck-through: "probably"} not approve of Balfour's scheme and I daresay will or what he can to help Redmond, but a lot of the so called "Liberals" are about as Liberal as the "Irish Times" and when Ireland is the issue, will find many "fly-blown phylacteries" in which to wrap their foreheads.

The battle of Redistribution will have to be fought in Ireland & the right course for us is to try and get the North of Ireland men to join the national protest and to point out to them that Redistribution within Ireland, giving the North a gain of several seats, will not be opposed by Irish Nationalism.

Believe me,

Yours very truly,

Roger Casement