I was permitted to consult the Minute-books of the Ulster Unionist Council and its Standing Committee, and also verbatim reports made for the Council of unpublished speeches delivered at private meetings of those bodies. A large collection of miscellaneous documents accumulated by the late Lord Londonderry was kindly lent to me by the present Marquis; and I also have to thank Lord Carson of Duncairn for the use of letters and other papers in his possession. Colonel F.H. Crawford, C.B.E., was good enough to place at my disposal a very detailed account written by himself of the voyage of the _Fanny_, and the log kept by Captain Agnew. My friend Mr. Thomas Moles, M.P., took full shorthand notes of the proceedings of the Irish Convention and the principal speeches made in it, and he kindly allowed me to use his transcript. And I should not like to pass over without acknowledgment the help given me on several occasions by Miss Omash, of the Union Defence League, in tracing references. R. McN. February 1922. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION: THE ULSTER STANDPOINT II. THE ELECTORATE AND HOME RULE III. ORGANISATION AND LEADERSHIP IV. THE PARLIAMENT ACT: CRAIGAVON V. THE CRAIGAVON POLICY AND THE U.F.V. VI. MR. CHURCHILL IN BELFAST VII. "WHAT ANSWER FROM THE NORTH?" VIII. THE EXCLUSION OF ULSTER IX. THE EVE OF THE COVENANT X. THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT XI. PASSING THE BILL XII. WAS RESISTANCE JUSTIFIABLE? XIII. PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT AND PROPAGANDA XIV. LORD LOREBURN'S LETTER XV. PREPARATIONS AND PROPOSALS XVI. THE CURRAGH INCIDENT XVII. ARMING THE U.V.F. XVIII. A VOYAGE OF ADVENTURE XIX. ON THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR XX. ULSTER IN THE WAR XXI. NEGOTIATIONS FOR SETTLEMENT XXII. THE IRISH CONVENTION XXIII. NATIONALISTS AND CONSCRIPTION XXIV. THE ULSTER PARLIAMENT APPENDIX A. NATIONALIST LETTER TO PRESIDENT WILSON B. UNIONIST LETTER TO PRESIDENT WILSON INDEX ULSTER'S STAND FOR UNION CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION: THE ULSTER STANDPOINT Like all other movements in human affairs, the opposition of the Northern Protestants of Ireland to the agitation of their Nationalist fellow-countrymen for Home Rule can only be properly understood by those who take some pains to get at the true motives, and to appreciate the spirit, of those who engaged in it. And as it is nowhere more true than in Ireland that the events of to-day are the outcome of events that occurred longer ago than yesterday, and that the motives of to-day have consequently their roots buried somewhat deeply in the past, it is no easy task for the outside observer to gain the insight requisite for understanding fairly the conduct of the persons concerned.