Lord Kitchener would not accept it.

He continued to be of the opinion that by equipping Redmond's followers he would be arming enemies.
It is worth noting that one of the ablest and most detached students of Irish affairs was wholly on Redmond's side.

Lord Dunraven, appealing on behalf of "the new Irish Brigade," pointed out that both sides of Redmond's policy must be accepted.

"No scheme which fails to take some account of the National Volunteer Force can do justice to what Ireland can give," he wrote.

But was there everywhere a desire to do justice to what Ireland could give--and was willing to give?
Redmond was warned in those days by an influential correspondent in England that a deliberate policy was being pursued by the opponents of Home Rule, who undoubtedly had strong backing in the War Office.