Controversy over Casement’s visit to Berlin continues

Official German statement released

Berlin, 5 December 1914 - The controversy over Sir Roger Casement’s reported visit to Berlin took a new turn yesterday with the publication of an official statement by the German Imperial Government.

Dr Angus Mitchell on Sir Roger Casement's trip to Germany during the First World War.

Responding to points raised by Sir Roger Casement, the statement said:

‘Germany cherishes only sentiments of goodwill for the prosperity of the Irish people, their land, and their institutions. If, in the course of this war which Germany did not seek, the fortunes of arms should ever bring German troops to the coasts of Ireland, they would land there, not as an army of invaders coming to rob or destroy, but as the fighting forces of a government inspired only by goodwill towards a land and the people for whom Germany only wishes national prosperity and national freedom.’

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]