He claimed to be supreme in all matters relating to the Army, and in such a war this came near to covering the whole field of government.

It most certainly covered the question of dealing with the Irish Volunteers and with the Ulster Volunteers, which meant in reality the whole question of Ireland.
Immediately on Lord Kitchener's appointment Redmond had an interview with him.

Redmond's report was that he had been most friendly--and most limited in his expectations.

"Get me five thousand men, and I will say 'Thank you,'" he had said.

"Get me ten thousand, and I will take off my hat to you." Yet the very smallness of the estimate should have been a note of warning to us; it indicated a cynical view of Ireland's response to Redmond's public declaration.
On the question of the Volunteers he made friendly promises.