Mr. Chamberlain asked me to see him in his room at the House of Commons at five o'clock this evening on the proposed Clause 15 of the Military Training Bill².

In view of my conjecture after a telephone talk last night with his Principal Private Secretary³ that Mr. Chamberlain would today announce some decision, I thought it better to elicit his statement first.

He began by referring to the statement which Lord Craigavon had that day published saying that the Six County Government, whilst offering the whole of their resources to the British Government, had decided to leave to the latter the decision as to how those resources could best be used.

After careful consideration of this obviously difficult question the British Government, Mr. Chamberlain said, had decided not to extend Conscription to the Six Counties.

He explained that he had put me off from an interview on the preceding evening because he though it better to make this announcement to me after the meeting of the Cabinet which was held that morning and at which their decision was reached. He did not want it to appear that the British Government had yielded to 'a last moment pressure from Mr. de Valera'.

They had of course borne carefully in mind the representation which I had made both to him, and, he added, to certain other people - referring presumably to my conversations with members of their Cabinet and others in London during the past few days. They were not to be understood as admitting that as yet Mr. de Valera had any jurisdiction in the Six Counties. The British Government had reached this decision because it had been made clear to them the very serious difficulties in which the proposal would involve both Mr. de Valera and themselves. It was their earnest wish to develop the most harmonious relations with the Irish Government and further it would be a pity to allow differences which really had no connection with the question of British defence to add to the grave problems at the moment confronting the British Government.

Mr. de Valera, Mr. Chamberlain continued, had won his case but he felt sure that he would treat the decision with tact. 'We shall of course be much abused for this decision' but he thought with proper handling on all sides the turn events had taken should lead, as he prayed they might lead, to a better understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

I formed the impression that this question had been a source of considerable anxiety to Mr. Chamberlain and that he was much relieved, not to say happy, at the decision not to apply Conscription. It seemed neither necessary nor desirable at the moment to ask the obvious question as to why they had ever entertained such a proposal.

I therefore limited my remarks to saying that I assumed that Clause 15 of the Military Training Bill would be dropped forthwith. 'Yes' replied Mr. Chamberlain, 'We have decided to drop it because it would, if left in, be a continuing difficulty for Mr. de Valera.'

Walking with me to the door Mr. Chamberlain repeated his hope for a better understanding between Ireland and England. In striking contrast to my interview with him less than a week ago⁴, when his tone was rather sharp and aggressive, his attitude this evening was unmistakably friendly.