There had been no consultation in our party, such as was customary and almost obligatory on important occasions.

I have said before that Redmond's position was by understanding and agreement that of chairman, not of leader.

Mr.
Dillon, by far the most important of his colleagues, was away in Ireland.

Any action that Redmond took he must take not merely in an unusual but in a new capacity, as leader, at a great moment, acting in his own right.
Neither had there been any consultation between him and the Government.
He knew only what the general public knew.

Parts of Sir Edward Grey's speech were to him, as to the other members of the House, a surprise at many points.