Then came the World War, and in the debate succeeding Sir E. Grey's famous declaration on Bank Holiday, Aug. 3, Red mond created a profound sensation by a speech in which he declared that the events of recent years had completely altered the Nationalist feeling towards Great Britain. The Government, he said, might withdraw its troops from Ireland, whose coasts would be defended by her own sons, Nationalist volunteers join ing with Ulster volunteers in the task. This generous attitude was met by the decision of the Government to pass the Home Rule bill into law, suspending its operation till after the war. Redmond took an active part in promoting recruiting in Ireland, and stood on the platform in Dublin Mansion House on Sept. 25 by the side of the prime minister and the lord lieutenant. Un fortunately, his efforts were only moderately successful, but he refused Asquith's offer to join the first Coalition Government, and he successfully opposed all attempts to apply conscription to Ireland. It was a stunning blow to him when the smouldering dissatisfaction of southern Ireland broke out into a blaze in the Dublin rebellion of Easter 1916. He expressed in the House of
Commons his detestation of the crime, and lent his assistance to the attempt which was made by the Government in the summer through Lloyd George to arrange an agreed settlement of the Irish question.
But the effort failed; Duke, a Unionist, was appointed chief secretary; and Redmond treated the whole transaction as a fresh outrage on Ireland, moving on Oct. 18 a resolution (which was, of course, rejected) charging ministers with maintaining a system of Government in that country inconsistent with the principles for which the Allies were fighting in Europe. Next year he threat ened a return of his party to the old obstructionist opposition; but when in May 1917 Lloyd George, as prime minister, suggested an Irish convention to produce a scheme of self-government, Red mond agreed ; and in the convention he played a conciliatory part. During its sittings, however, his health failed. He died of heart failure in London on March 6, 1918.
See I. G. Redmond Howard, John Redmond (Iwo) ; Home Rule: Speeches of John Redmond, M.P. edit. by R. Barry O'Brien (1919) ; S. Gwyn, John Redmond's Last Years (1919).