This was diametrically opposite to Redmond's view, and he said so, and urged again that the Irish Command was of his opinion.
The proposed conference resolved itself--to Redmond's indignation--into a discussion of Redmond's memorandum between the Adjutant-General and Sir Lawrence Parsons.

Only in September, when at Lord Wimborne's instance he interviewed Lord Kitchener, did he have the opportunity of raising the matter by direct speech.

Lord Kitchener then declared himself willing to admit that on the question whether enlistment for Home Defence would promote or retard recruiting, Redmond's judgment was probably more valuable than his own, and he promised to review the question of Home Defence again in the light of it.

But of this promise nothing came.
Meantime Redmond was being warned that the Volunteer organization as it stood had exhausted its usefulness; its enthusiasm was gone--a natural result of having no purpose.

A new opening seemed to be created by the Bill which Lord Lincolnshire introduced to recognize a Volunteer Force in Great Britain which should perform military duties under the War Office control.