Curragh Incident
In 1914, Wilson surreptitiously supported British Army officers who threatened to resign rather than lead troops against Ulster Unionist opponents of the Third Irish Home Rule Bill in the so-called Curragh Mutiny, although some blamed him for inciting the Incident and then failing to support the "mutineers". Wilson leaked information to the Ulster Volunteers and to the Conservative opposition. The government had drawn up a carefully worded formula to prevent the resignation of officers, but in response to Henry Wilson’s questioning Seely (Secretary of State for War) added two paragraphs (“the peccant paragraphs”) stating that the Army would not be required to coerce Ulster. Seely had to resign; Wilson canvassed Army opinion at a Staff College point-to-point and told French, who had initialled Seely's amendments, that he must resign as CIGS, which he did.
Read more about this topic: Sir Henry Wilson, 1st Baronet
Famous quotes containing the word incident:
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