Collaboration with the German Empire in WWI Casement Report

german u-boot sm u-19, second right. c. 1914.

in august 1914, @ outbreak of world war i, casement , john devoy arranged meeting in new york western hemisphere s top-ranking german diplomat, count bernstorff, propose mutually beneficial plan: if germany sell guns irish revolutionaries , provide military leaders, irish revolt against england, diverting troops , attention war germany.

in 1916, british had intercepted german communications coming washington , suspected there going attempt land arms shipments on irish shores, although not aware of precise location. arms ship ss libau, masqueraded merchant ship, under captain karl spindler, apprehended hms bluebell on late afternoon of friday .

in hours of 21 april 1916, 3 days before easter rising began, german submarine sm u-19 put casement ashore @ banna strand in tralee bay, county kerry. casement suffering recurrence of malaria had plagued him since days in congo free state, , weak travel, discovered @ mckenna s fort in rahoneen, ardfert, , arrested on charges of treason.

a group of irish american congressmen of joseph tumulty (the president s personal , irish-catholic secretary) presented petition woodrow wilson (of scots-irish descent) request lean in on casement trial. wilson in middle of re-election campaign , counting on irish american vote. british hoping american intervention in war, have hardly ignored plea wilson. on 2 may 1916, wilson wrote tumulty: “we have no choice in matter of sort. absolutely necessary take no action of kind regarding it.”

on 3 august 1916 casement hanged treason, sabotage , espionage against british crown on basis of collaboration german empire.