TERMS FOR IRELAND

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 277, 17 August 1921, Page 5

TERMS FOR IRELAND

WHAT FINAL REJECTION WOULD MEAN GOVERNMENT WILL DISCHARGE ITS DUTY VIEWS OF IRISH PRESS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright London, August 15. The “Belfast Telegraph” says:—“The Government has been magnanimous to the point of folly: Ireland will he insane to the point of criminality if she rejects the terms. The Sinn Fein’s proposals. if carried out, would mean immediate civil war.” It describes the foreign arbitration proposal as nn outraucous insult. The “Northern Whig” (Belfast) says the terms offered to the Sinn Feiners wdu’d bring about the disintegration of the Empire. “Britain’s bitterest enemy could not ask for easier methods of bringing about her desr.ruct.ion than what Mr. Lloyd George has offered. The way Mr. do Valera writes about peace is sickening. Perhaps ho imagines that if he murders a few hundred more policemen and soldiers, Mr. Lloyd George will grant him the right to secede; but a British Government that agreed to secession would have a short life.” lhe paper adds: “The rebels may take what is offered, or compel tho Government to undertake the reconquest of the West and South. The Government will undertake its duty reluctantly, but will, discharge it completely and finally, or make way for a Government which will give more adequate expression to the will of the British people.” Tho “Irish Independent (Dublin) eays "lt would be tragic if the negotiations were, broken off. We st'ill strongly hope thc.ro .will be a satisfactory settlement There are militarists who are anxious to prevent a peaceable settlement. They should not be allowed to have their way. The prospect for Ireland is appalling if intensified warfare is resumed.” The “Cork Examiner” says:— It must be borne in mind that the terms offered for 'Southern Ireland are infinitely better than what Ulster obtains under the Act of Partition, and there seems to be a possibility of making an even better .settlement than that outlined. -Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. REFERENDUM MAY BE RECOMMENDED REJECTION OF OFFER WOULD LEAD TO GENERAL ELECTION. (Rec. August 16, 10.5 p.m.) London, August 16. “The Times” lobbyist says that members aro unanimous that the Government has gone to the limit of concession. Well-informed persons in close touch with Sinn Fein and South Ireland interpret Mr. de Valera’S statement that the Dail Eireann could not and the Irish people would not accept Mr! Lloyd George’s proposals as an indication that the ultimate recommendation of the Sinn Fein Cabinet to tho Dail Eireann will be a referendum of the people, not rejection of the te-ms. Any rejection, with the possible renewal of hostilities, would undoubtedly load to a general election in England, in which the Government would appeal to the electors for an unchallengeable authority to resist the separatist movement in Ireland. The Dublin correspondent of “The Tinies” states that the general feeling in Dublin is that agreement will eventually be reached .—"The Times.” NOT THE SINN FEINERS’ LAST WORD EXTREMISTS MAY CAUSE A SPLIT. (Rcc. August 16, 8.20 p.m.) London, August 16. The "Daily Express’s” lobbyist reports that Mr. de' Valera is credited with the intention of standing up to. the Sinn Fein extremists and pressing for a referendum on the Government offer. If the Dail Eireann attempts this method, tho Government is prepared to give all facilities, without committing itself to acceptance of the result. Those in touch with Sinn Fein opinion declare that though Mr. do Valera wrote lhe letter of rejection to please the extremists, the letter must not be taken as the Sinn Feiners’ last word. If the extremists attempt to make further negotiations impossible, a serious split may immediately develop m the Sinn Fein movement. The "Daily Telegraph’s” Belfast correspondent says the entire public opinion is aghast at the Sinn F«in folly in rejecting the offer. It is not believed that Mr. de Valera is bluffing, biit.it will not lie surprising if the negotiations continue some time before a' final rupture. Cardinal Logue, interviewed, refused to express an opinion at this stage. Moderate Nationalists favour acceptance, but they are inarticulate. So far as the rank and file of Sinn Feiners aro concerned, there is a honeful feeling that progress towards a settlement has not been cheeked. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DEMAND FOR NO SURRENDER. (Rec. August 16. 8.20 p.m.) London, August 16. The "Daily News” Dublin correspnnd«nt. reports that the extremists are daily bombarding members of the Dail Eireann with messages demanding no surrender. These are supported by a section of the younger priesthood, and they commit three errors—firstly, they Badly underestimate tho British military strength; secondly, they fail to apy preciate tho strength and sincerity of the new spirit Teyardine Irish affairs that is pervading Great .Britain; thirdly, they make insufficient allowance for the effect of the British offer on world opinion.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NO AMNESTY GRANTED (Rec. August 16. 9.10 p.m.l London, August 16. Mr. Lloyd George, replying to questions in the House of Commons, said an amnesty had not Iren granted to any person in Ireland. The release of memIxirs of tho Dail Eireann was no precedent for other releases.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OPINIONS OF ENGLISH PAPERS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. London, August 15. Commenting on. I ho Irish position, tho "Manchester Guardian” says:—"Tho choice is with Ireland. All her best friends and her most resolute opponents hope that she will not close the door to pence.” Tho "Daily News” refuses to believe that the Irish will allow the present golden opportunity to be lost. The "Herald” says the Government has been driven by the sheer weight of public opinion to concede to the Irish a biff portion of what they demand, and intend to stand by whatever decision is arrived at. It is their right and re-, sponsibility to make the decision alone. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICAN JOURNALS’ VIEWS RESPONSIBILITY OF REFUSING GENEROUS OFFER. New York, August 15. The “Globe” and the "Post” agree that Mr. Lloyd George’s offer is generous, and a serious responsibility will devolve on Mr. de Valera if ho recklessly pro-

vents. peace by clinging” to unreasonable demands. The "Post** says: <r lt is within the power of the Sinn Fein leaders to win. for Ireland a position so legally mid morally impregnable as to satisfy tho full aspirations of the Irish people. To permit age-long animosity to frustrate that would be an act of wanton recklessness/* The "Globe * considers tho offer the best conceivable,. and believes that Mr. Lloyd George has honestly attempted to solve tho problem. If the Republicans refuse the offer, they cannot say as much for themselves. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. GENERAL SMUTS’S LETTER BELFAST PAPER’S EXPLANATION OF ITS PUBLICATION. London, August 15. Tho "Irish News” (Belfast) says:—“The British Government planned the publication of General Smuts’s letter as a prelude to the publication of all the correspondence, so that the Irishmen summoned to the Dublin Mansion. House this week will bo confronted with a problem of enormous difficulty, and will bo compelled immediately to take on their shouders the tremendous responsibility of determining the question of peace or war without further negotiations.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION (Rec. August 16, 8.20 p.m.) London, August 16. Lord Castlemaine is claiming £200,000 compensation for the destruction of Moydrum Castle, which was burned last month by a party of armed men, and Mrs. Lambert £30,000 for the murder of her husband, General Lambert. —Aus.N Z. Cable Assn.