The National Volunteers were to become the objects of derision and contempt, which would extend to himself.

By keeping the Volunteers out of active participation in war service, it could be proved that Redmond did not speak for Ireland or represent Ireland; that the Irish were raising unreal objections so as to keep an excuse for avoiding danger.

It was urged on him that he should press for the extension of the Territorial Act to Ireland and endeavour to bring his men in on this footing.
There were two difficulties in the way of this scheme which nevertheless attracted him strongly.

The first was that enlistment in the Territorials for home service had been stopped--so that the proposal had little advantage, if any, over enlistment in the Irish brigades.

The second was due to the Volunteers themselves, many of whom, though willing to serve in the war, were unwilling to take the oath of allegiance.
There were limits to the length to which Redmond felt himself able to go, and he never dealt with this objection by argument.