On This Day / November 20, 1920
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19201120
Reference Date
19201120
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 20th November 1920, former Prime Minister H. H. Asquith condemned Crown reprisals as “indiscriminate vengeance”, citing the killing of Mrs Quinn in Galway. Edward Carson, writing in the Evening Standard, urged a “Truce of God” and said Ulster earnestly desired peace. Edited by Dr Éamon Phoenix.
‘Indiscriminate Vengeance’ – Ex-PM | On This Day – 20th November 1920
SPEAKING as guest of the National Liberal Club [London] yesterday, Mr H H Asquith [former Prime Minister] said the question of so-called reprisals was a topic which in his opinion ought to engross the attention, arouse the disquietude and weigh upon the conscience of the people of the country.
The plain truth was that since the adoption of this practice of reprisals, without a parallel in the annals of British administration (applause) – justice had been put in the background and vengeance had been enthroned in its place and the Executive had allowed itself to become administrator of the policy of indiscriminating vengeance.
These were considered words and they could be proved to the hilt. (Applause.)
They dealt a blow at the very foundation upon which civilised society rested when the Executive was permitted to confound innocents with the guilty and to strike out wildly and blindly in a frenzy of retaliation. …
The case of Mrs Quinn in County Galway was a case of what is now called ‘precautionary shooting’. Two military motor lorries left their station and when they came into the place began firing a series of ‘precautionary’ shots.
Mrs Quinn was sitting on a road wall with a baby. She was shot and was killed and the doctor stated that the bullet must have been fired at close range.
If ever there was a case of wilful murder it was that case. (Cries of ‘Shame’.)
The invasion of towns, the burning of factories and shops, indiscriminate shooting, cold-blooded and deliberate murder had now been traced over and over again to the accredited and uniformed servants of the Crown.
Carson Wants ‘Truce of God’
SIR Edward Carson in yesterday’s London Evening Standard called for a ‘Truce of God’ in Ireland.
Sir Edward said there is no part of the community which more earnestly desired peace than Ulster. They accepted in the present Bill a Council representing Northern and Southern Parliaments and empowered to bring about unity by agreement at any time when the people in North and South had settled down…
And although at that time they would have preferred exclusion [Direct Rule] they now feel that the only way in which they can avoid being pawns in the political controversies of the future is that they should be allowed to set up their own Parliament…’
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: Ignoring the stentorian vices of Asquith and the Liberal press, Lloyd George and Churchill continued with their ruthless ‘reprisals policy’ in Ireland.
Meanwhile Carson seemed more open to long-term Irish unity than his northern followers while viewing a Belfast parliament as essential for Unionism’s long-term security.)
On This Day – 20th November 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201120
Reference Date
19201120
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 20th November 1920, former Prime Minister H. H. Asquith condemned Crown reprisals as “indiscriminate vengeance”, citing the killing of Mrs Quinn in Galway. Edward Carson, writing in the Evening Standard, urged a “Truce of God” and said Ulster earnestly desired peace. Edited by Dr Éamon Phoenix.
‘Indiscriminate Vengeance’ – Ex-PM | On This Day – 20th November 1920
SPEAKING as guest of the National Liberal Club [London] yesterday, Mr H H Asquith [former Prime Minister] said the question of so-called reprisals was a topic which in his opinion ought to engross the attention, arouse the disquietude and weigh upon the conscience of the people of the country.
The plain truth was that since the adoption of this practice of reprisals, without a parallel in the annals of British administration (applause) – justice had been put in the background and vengeance had been enthroned in its place and the Executive had allowed itself to become administrator of the policy of indiscriminating vengeance.
These were considered words and they could be proved to the hilt. (Applause.)
They dealt a blow at the very foundation upon which civilised society rested when the Executive was permitted to confound innocents with the guilty and to strike out wildly and blindly in a frenzy of retaliation. …
The case of Mrs Quinn in County Galway was a case of what is now called ‘precautionary shooting’. Two military motor lorries left their station and when they came into the place began firing a series of ‘precautionary’ shots.
Mrs Quinn was sitting on a road wall with a baby. She was shot and was killed and the doctor stated that the bullet must have been fired at close range.
If ever there was a case of wilful murder it was that case. (Cries of ‘Shame’.)
The invasion of towns, the burning of factories and shops, indiscriminate shooting, cold-blooded and deliberate murder had now been traced over and over again to the accredited and uniformed servants of the Crown.
Carson Wants ‘Truce of God’
SIR Edward Carson in yesterday’s London Evening Standard called for a ‘Truce of God’ in Ireland.
Sir Edward said there is no part of the community which more earnestly desired peace than Ulster. They accepted in the present Bill a Council representing Northern and Southern Parliaments and empowered to bring about unity by agreement at any time when the people in North and South had settled down…
And although at that time they would have preferred exclusion [Direct Rule] they now feel that the only way in which they can avoid being pawns in the political controversies of the future is that they should be allowed to set up their own Parliament…’
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: Ignoring the stentorian vices of Asquith and the Liberal press, Lloyd George and Churchill continued with their ruthless ‘reprisals policy’ in Ireland.
Meanwhile Carson seemed more open to long-term Irish unity than his northern followers while viewing a Belfast parliament as essential for Unionism’s long-term security.)
On This Day – 20th November 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201120
Reference Date
November 20, 2020
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 20th November 1920, former Prime Minister H. H. Asquith condemned Crown reprisals as “indiscriminate vengeance”, citing the killing of Mrs Quinn in Galway. Edward Carson, writing in the Evening Standard, urged a “Truce of God” and said Ulster earnestly desired peace. Edited by Dr Éamon Phoenix.
‘Indiscriminate Vengeance’ – Ex-PM | On This Day – 20th November 1920
SPEAKING as guest of the National Liberal Club [London] yesterday, Mr H H Asquith [former Prime Minister] said the question of so-called reprisals was a topic which in his opinion ought to engross the attention, arouse the disquietude and weigh upon the conscience of the people of the country.
The plain truth was that since the adoption of this practice of reprisals, without a parallel in the annals of British administration (applause) – justice had been put in the background and vengeance had been enthroned in its place and the Executive had allowed itself to become administrator of the policy of indiscriminating vengeance.
These were considered words and they could be proved to the hilt. (Applause.)
They dealt a blow at the very foundation upon which civilised society rested when the Executive was permitted to confound innocents with the guilty and to strike out wildly and blindly in a frenzy of retaliation. …
The case of Mrs Quinn in County Galway was a case of what is now called ‘precautionary shooting’. Two military motor lorries left their station and when they came into the place began firing a series of ‘precautionary’ shots.
Mrs Quinn was sitting on a road wall with a baby. She was shot and was killed and the doctor stated that the bullet must have been fired at close range.
If ever there was a case of wilful murder it was that case. (Cries of ‘Shame’.)
The invasion of towns, the burning of factories and shops, indiscriminate shooting, cold-blooded and deliberate murder had now been traced over and over again to the accredited and uniformed servants of the Crown.
Carson Wants ‘Truce of God’
SIR Edward Carson in yesterday’s London Evening Standard called for a ‘Truce of God’ in Ireland.
Sir Edward said there is no part of the community which more earnestly desired peace than Ulster. They accepted in the present Bill a Council representing Northern and Southern Parliaments and empowered to bring about unity by agreement at any time when the people in North and South had settled down…
And although at that time they would have preferred exclusion [Direct Rule] they now feel that the only way in which they can avoid being pawns in the political controversies of the future is that they should be allowed to set up their own Parliament…’
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: Ignoring the stentorian vices of Asquith and the Liberal press, Lloyd George and Churchill continued with their ruthless ‘reprisals policy’ in Ireland.
Meanwhile Carson seemed more open to long-term Irish unity than his northern followers while viewing a Belfast parliament as essential for Unionism’s long-term security.)
On This Day – 20th November 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.