IRISH NEGOTIATIONS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 25, 24 October 1921, Page 5

IRISH NEGOTIATIONS

GRAVE CRISIS ARISEN DE VALERA’S REFERENCES TO THE KING PREMIER’S INTIMATION TO DELEGATES The references to the King in Mr. de Valera’s telegram to the Pope have precipitated a grave crisis in the Irish peace negotiations, and Mr. Lloyd George has intimated that if the pronouncement represents the unalterable views of the plenipotentiaries further conference is impossible.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. October 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 21. The "Daily Express" states that a grave crisis has arisen in the Irish peace negotiations with dramatic suddenness owing to Mr. de Valera’s references to the King in the telegram to tho Pope. Tho point at issue is the sovereignty of Ireland. Failure of the negotiations would precipitate a general election. Already the Government’s election organisers have had warning, as the Government means io go to the country for a firm, mandate to resist an Irish Republic. When Mr. Lloyd Georgo saw the Irish delegates he intimated that if Mr. de Valera’s pronouncement represented the unalterable view of the plenipotentiaries further conference was impossible. Tho conference adjourned till

Monday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CONFERENCE ‘AS GOOD AS FINISHED UNLESS TELEGRAM EXPLAINED AWAY. ' (Rec. October 23, 5.5 p.m.) ® London, October 22. • Lobby correspondents say that unless Mr. de Valera’s telegram is explained away the Irish Conference will lie as good as finished. The Sinn Fein leader is not credited with hign statesmanship, but it is impossible to regard his action as a theatrical display without a deliberate intention of the repudiation, of the King. It is more deliberate than nny yet published, and compels immediate notice to bo taken of the cardinal difference. Mr. do Valera is apparently counting on Air.' Lloyd George’s anxiety to attend the Washington Conference to make the Government amenable to pressure. If so, he has made a profound miscalculation. The Government, however, hopes that before Monday the people of Ireland will find a way of indicating that they are not behind Mr. de Valera, and regard his intervention as a blunder which they regret and con-demn.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. October 23, 5.5 p.m.)

London, October 22. "The Times” lobbyist writes that he has good grounds for stating that the Irish delegation had not. been informed of tho terms of the message, yet Mr. do Valera’s action will embolden the critics of the Government to demand the immediate abandonment of the negotiations. If Mr. de Valera would reimport into tho discussions the question of independence a speedy outcome can be foreseen. If otherwise, it is assumed that his intention was not deliberately tosput an end to the negotiations.—" The Times.” DELEGATES ASKED TO DEFINE THEIR POSITION. (Rec. October 23, 11.45 p.m.) London, October 23. The newspapers predict that the Irish conference will be broken off. Mr. Lloyd George has asked tho Sinn Fein delegates to define their position—tjiey must either repudiate Mr. de Valera, which is unlikely, or find a. formula smoothing the matter over, which is extremely difficult. If tho matter is adjusted, Mr. de Valera’s message will have a serious reaction among the Government’s supporters. A number of Conservatives who disapproved of the conference without a definite surrender of Ireland’s claims to sovereignty, threaten to revolt if any further concessions are made, or Ulster’s Interests sacrificed, —Aus.-N.Z. Cable

Assn. FEELING IN ROME (Rec. October 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 22. The “Daily Mail’s” Rome correspondent states that Mr. de Valera's/ telegram has been widely discussed. The general feeling is that he has teen guilty of an act of indelicacy. It is unknown at present what steps, if any, the Popo intends to take. A high Vatican official stated that the Popo was mpcli grieved over the mistrust between England and Ireland, of which Mr. de Valera’s telegram gives additional proof. He is convinced that if both could forget the past and approach the Irish problem with unbiased minds a solution would not be long in coming.—United Service.

COMMENTS OF THE PRESS "AN ACT OF IMPERTINENCE.” London, October 21. "The Times,” in a leading article, says: “Mr. de Valera’s telegram to tho Pope will, wo imagine, fill His Holiness with dismay, as it will certainly arouse indignation among the people of this country and the Dominions. It is an act of impertinence towards tho Pope, and towards the King one of unmannerly churlishness. If he really s'peaks in the name of tho majority of the Irish people, tho chances of peace nre small. AVe are fully aware that irreconcilable forces in this country aro also working to wreck tho conference, but those forces do nqf represent the great majority of Britain. Yet it is idle to ignore the strength they may derive from a manifestation such ns that of Mr. do Valera. Should peace be frustrated in spite of the honest endeavour of this country, the cause must he so clear as to justify its course in the eyes of the civilised world.”—“The Tinies." London, October 21. ,The "Westminster Gnzete” is of opinion that Mr. do Valera is piqued because the Popo dm noi' send him a message at the same time as he sent, his message, to the King. The “Irish Times” says that Irishmen of all parties will bo offended and disapteipted. It highly praises the King, who m his dealings with Ireland has shown tho warmest courage. His liberality, it says, made the truce and tho conference possible. — Renter,

"IRISH BULTETIY’S” EXPLANATION. niec. October 23, *.* p.m.) London, October 22. The Sinn Fein organ, the “Irish Bulletin,” explains that Mr. do. Valera’s message was a protest against the phrase, about” the troubles in Ireland in th" King’s reply to the Pope as being n dishonor; depcriptioi of the British war on Irish carters. Both Hie Irish majority and the Irish minority regard Ireland as their beloved land, and desire peace and contentment for it. The message was also a protest againt the use of tho words "my people,” ns they prejudge Ireland’s declared independence. The "Bulletin" adds: "Peace and friend-

ship is impossible if every expression of good-will received by th© British Government from other countries is made a pretext for misrepresenting tho issues between Ireland and Britain. Ireland's distinctive nationality and her peoples thrice repeated declaration in support of national freedom aro tho foundations on which real peace and true friendship between the two peoples mast bo based, if there is to be any permanence in either, —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE POPE’S MESSAGE TO THE KING MOST DEFINITE PRONOUNCEMENT. London, October 21. The Dublfh correspondent of “The Times” states that tho Pope’s message ttf the King is accepted throughout the country as the most definite and important pronouncement ho has yet made on tho Irish crisis. It is accepted by most Irishmen that the Pope has in view a constitutional settlement within the Empire, and the message-has given much pleasure to the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. “The Tinies.” DIFFERENCES IN SINN FEIN CAMP London, October 21. It is learned from well-informed sources that the insistence of tho Irish delegates on tho essential unity of Ireland and tho subservience of . Ulster nearly precipitate i an early crisis, but it was averted by referring certain questions to a joint committee, giving time for further reflection. It is also understood that the best hope of a satisfactory settlement lies in the differences in tho Sinn Fein camp, and the belief that the Irish delegates are purposely placing their demands high in order that, they may eventually secure the 'best terms. —Reuter. SOUTHERONIONISTS DELEGATES TO LOYALIST CONFERENCE. London, October 21. Mr. Middleton, provost of Trinity College, and Air. Andrew Jameson have been chosen to represent the Southern Unionists of Ireland at a conference, on questions affecting tho loyalist minority. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.