IN IRELAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1921, Page 1

IN IRELAND.

AUSTRALIAN ANL, N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LLOYD GEORGE’S DESIRE. A STRAIGHTOUT REPLY. LONDON, August 13. Lloyd" G'eorge'is reply expresses a desire to make the position absolutely dear. In our opinion, nothing will be gained by prolonging the discussion on the national status which you are willing to accept, compared with that of the self-governing dominions. 1 must direct your attention to one point you emphasise on, which no British Government oan compromise, namely, the claim that we should acknowledge the right of Ireland to secede from allegiance to the King. No such right can ever he acknowledged hv us. The geographical propingnity of Ireland is a fundamental fact and the history of the two islands for many centuries however may be read as sufficient proof that their destinies are indissolubly linked. A great number, in all the Irish provinces, are, profoundly attached to the Throne. These facts permit of one answer and one only, to the claim that Britain should negotiate with Ireland as a separate and foreign power. When you, as a chosen representative of the Irish national ideals, came to speak. T made one condition only, to tho effect that Ireland should recognise the force of geographical and historical facts. Those facts govern the problem of British and Irish relations. T pass, therefore, to the conditions imposed by these facts. There is no need to restate them here, except to sav that the British Government cannot consent to a. reference of any such question which concerns Britain and Trouand alone, to the arbitration of a foreign power - . I am profoundly glad to have your agreement that Northern Ireland cannot bp coerced. This is a point of oreat importance, because tho resolve of our people to resist to the fill 1 power any attempt at secession of one part of Trelnnd carries, of necessity, an equal resolve to resist anv effort to eoerre any other part of Ireland to the Grown. T gladly give the assurance that 1 will concur in any settlement Southern and Northern Ireland mav make for Trish unity, within the six conditions laid down. These conditions contain no derogation of Ireland’s status as a Dominion. There is no desire for British ascendency and no impairment of Ireland’s national ideals, but they offer to the Trish people au opportunity such ns never dawned before, and are made in an earnest desire for peace, but beyond them T cannot go. ULSTER’S FAULT\MFNT.

LONDON. August 14. efir .T. Craig Glister’s Premier! writes to Mr Lloyd George as follows: “Tn order that you may correctly understand the attitude which we propose to adopt, it is necessary to remind you of the snerifi'ees which wo recently made in agreeing fo self-government and consenting to tho establishment of tho Parliament for Northern Ireland, [t was much against our wish ; but, in the interests of peace, we accepted this as the final settlement of the long outstanding difficulty confronting the Government of Great- Britain. We are now engaged in ratifying our part of this bargain, while Irishmen outside our northern area have chosen to repudiate tho Government of Ireland Act and to press Great Britain for greater powers. To join in such pressure is repugnant to the people of Northern Ireland. In further interests of peace, however, we decline to interfere with (lie terms made as hetwen Rritain and the South of Ireland* It cannot then ho said that “Ulster blocks tinway.” Our acceptance of your original invitation to meet- you in conference holds good. If our assistance he again desired, we are available, but 1 am bound to acquaint you with the fact that any meeting will be impossible as between .Mr d ( > Valera and myself until bo recognises that the North of Ireland will not submit to any authority other than that of the King and the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and until lie admits the sanctity of the existing powers and privilege.., of the Parliament and Government of Northern Ireland. We are prepared when you and De Valera arrive at a satisfactory settlement, to co-operate with the South on equal terms for the future welfare of our common country.” ENGLISH BBESS ATTITUDE. LONDON, Aug. 1 I. Tlie English newspapers generally agree that Mr Lloyd George’s offer to Sinn Foili marks the limits of any concessions to which t he English Government are prepared to go. They express profound disappointment at .Mr De Valera's reply, regarding ii as tantamount to refusal. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT. LONDON. Aug. I I Commenting on the Irish situation, the 'Daily Express” says: "We refuse to believe that Mr De Valera's eommuuii at ion represents the last word. 1 It is evident that lie is having trouble with bis extremist followers. I!is letter is expressing their views. MY predict that Mr Lloyd George’s proposals will favourably affect the bulk of the Irish people. The Government Inis already broken its rules by going straight to the point, making a firm, final oiler of all it is willing to pay for the Irish. The people of Great Britain are intensely anxious for a friendly Irish setlleinent, and are prepared to go to great lengths lo realist' this desire. Those lengths are reached in the Government's offer.” Tim “Daily Telegraph” says: “The - only iiiterpretniion that can he put on ; Mr Do Valera’s letter is that courage to ■ slain! up against lltc extreme elements’]

of Sinn Fein has not been found in its more responsible and better instructed leadership. They simply restate the essentials of their impossible demand. They are totally disregarding the advice given by General Smuts in his letter. How far Sinn Fein is removed from facing the realities will be judged from a reference to Ulster. The way remains open for the introduction of practical statesmanship into the negotiations on the Irish side. On the side of Great Britain, it is clear the utmost that could be asked of political generosity and hunlitn goodwill has been giv on.” The ‘‘Daily News” comments : “If Ireland desires the opinion of the civilised world on the choice presented b;> the British Cabinet, she has it in tin Smuts letter. It is a perfectly consistent attitude for Irishmen to take up that Ireland would be happier as an independent country, and that she therefore ought to have her sovereign independence, hut that attitude ignores every consideration of practical politic and puts a shadow before substance.” The “Daily Chronicle” says: “It iq dillicult not to discern many hands am’ two tendencies in Air Do Valera's letter. one for a doctrinoaire, hostile peace, and the other a practicable and favourable one. The hostile tendency iio.v lias the upper band in the councilwhich drafted the letter. It remainto be seen whether the Irish pubic, opinion and the opinion of the Dab Fircaun will weigh their reply altei fully considering the offer.” The “Morning Rost” says: “W thought it possible that the Irish re bels might have accepted the teims, 1 cause the conditions formulated by ■ Government give Sinn Fein all the want, inasmuch as a treaty trained on these terms would enable the Sou of Ireland to declare itself ;i republic, leaving Great Britain the choice between' acceptance of the situation, am' the waging of the war of reconquest Mr De Valera has other views. His insolent. rejection is extremely significant. The position is that the Government has proffered a surrender and its overtures are thing back in its lace. Slior of wholly yielding to the rebel’s demands, the Government of this eo’.u: trv cannot sink lower. It has courted humiliation, and lias received its full measure.” LONDON. Aug. 11. Deferring to Mr De A nlera’s letter "The Times” says it sees a gleam of hope in tin 1 tone in which the reply is couched, and says: ‘‘ln substance it is a iclusal. but it is a reasoned refusal, and one which seems deliberately to avoid any final rupture.” The paper-adds:—“Since Mi De A alora’s return to Ireland, extremist counsels apparently have prevailed, inducing the leaders to put forward the' view. AA'e refuse to despair until t Irish people and the Irish Parliament have had an opportunity of studying tie otter and weighing their reply."