CANCELED.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1921, Page 3

CANCELED.

NO INVERNESS ((INFERENCE. OWING To DE VALERA'S CLAIM. AUSTRALIAN AMI N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. (Received This Day at 10.13 a.m.) London, sept ib. Official The Inverness ('ntllereiliv hasbeen cancelled.

Hon. I.lovd George lias telegraphed to do Valera that the reiteration of the claim to. negotiate as an independent Sovereign State, makes the conference impossible. SINN FEIN REPLY. DE VALERA’S CLAIM. (Received This Day at 12.23 p.m.) LONDON. Sc pi In. The Sinn Fein reply signed bv 1)» Valera states:- We have no hesitation in declaring our willingness to enter a conference to ascertain how the association of Ireland with the community of nations we know as the British Empire can best lie reconciled with Irish national aspirations. Wo accordingly summoned the Dail Eireanu in order ti( ratify tip. names of its representatives, and hope that they will be in Inverness on the 2-ltli. In this final note we deem it our duty to affirm our position. Our nation lias formally declared its independence and recognises Bself as a Sovereign State. It is only as the representative of that Mate, that \ye have any authority to act- on behalf of our people as regards the principle of Government by consent of the governed. Tu tile very nature of things this must he the basis of any agreement that will achieve* the purpose we have at heart : that is the final reconciliation of our nation w.lb vours. We have suggested there is no interpretation of that principle, save its every day interpretation, in the sense for example, in which it is understood by plain men and women of the world. On sth January 1918, when you said a settlement of new Europe must be based on stieb grounds oT reason and justice as will give some proniise*of stability. | Therefore we feel that Government with the consent of Government, must be the basis of any territorial settlement in this war. These words, if «■ true answer to the criticism of our position, in which your last letter put, forward, the principle, was understood then to mean the right of Tuitions that b.-.d been annexed to Empires against their will, to free themselves from the grappling hook. That is the sense in which we understand it. A BELFAST BIOT. * LONDON, Sept. 15. Rioting took- place in Vere Street. Belfast, revolvers being fired. When soldiers with a Lewis gun arrived, the rioters tied. Two, women were shot.