Eamon de Valera 'Ireland's Case Against Conscription'

Eamon de Valera prepared this statement on conscription for the Mansion House Conference held on 18 April 1918 to plan opposition to conscription. It was a masterly presentation in which he cited numerous English authorities in support of his position. He lamented the sympathy for liberty which led so many to volunteer, who did not heed 'the convincing evidence to hand, that her ministers were as perfidious and as conscienceless as ever. Mons, Ypres, will be monuments to their unselfish heroism'.

In his view, 'A Parliament freely elected by, and directly answerable to, the people of Ireland has alone the right to conscript Irish men'.