CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1921, Page 3

CABLE NEWS.

THE IRISH PROBLEM. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION, CONFERENCE CANCELLED. LONDON, September 15. 51 r Lloyd George in reply to the Dail Eirenmi lias telegraphed Mr do Valera as follows: “1 informed your c.mfssai'Scs on Tuesday that reiteration of your claim to negotiate with his Majesty's Government ils the representative of an independent sovereign State makes a. conference between us impossible. They brought nie a letter,.in which you specially reaffirm that claim. You state that your nation has formally declared its independence. I asked them to warn yon of the very serious effect of such a claim, and 1 offered to regard your letter as undelivered, in order that you might have time to reconsider it. In spite of this intimation, you now puh--1 -Ti your letter in its original for" 1 must accordingly cancel the arrangements for a conference. 1 must consult with m.v colleagues as to what course and action the new situation necessitates. T will communicate this io you as soon as possible; hut. 'is 1 for the moment. am laid up here, a few days’ delay is inevitable. Meanwhile. I must make clear that my Government cannot reconsider the position which 1 staled to you. if we accepted a conference with .voir delegates on the formal statement of the claim which you reaffirm, ii would constitute an official ici (ignition by illy Government of the severance of I.

I rum tlie British Empire, and a receg. nitiou of its existence as an independent Republic Moreover. it would entitle you to declare that, in preference to an association with the British Empire you would pursue close associa tion by treaty with some foreign power. There is. only one answer possible to such a claim. The great ounces dons made bv my Government to the feelings of your people, in order to secure a lasting settlement, deserved a more generous response, hut so far, m every advance that has been made by us you have not come to +neot us by n single step, but have merely reit-Ta-ted, in phrases of emphatic challenge the letter and spirit of your original claim.” ::I'RPRISE CAUSED LONDON, September 15. It is being pointed out that Mr de Valera'S letter does not definitely lay down that Britain's acceptnnee »f Ire land's claim to Sovereign independence must pi eij.'do a cmi/erem e. Dublin opinion, it is reported, believes that Mr Lloyd George "ill find sonic way out. as it is contended that ho i- too astute to allow shut Fein to phe.c upon him the responsibility inclosing the door oil peace. Dail Eireann had appointed the Dish plenipotentiaries to attend the l"'*iness Conference before Mil' Lloyd George had received Mr de \aleia s letter.

This is regarded as a clever move, in show- that Sinn Fein is not responsible for the rupture of the negotiations.

LONDON PRESS LONDON. September 15. Some London newspapers state they regard Air do Valera’s letter as a final rejection of the Govern,nwnt’s ol fee. but add. that’: believing that the Irish people, overwhelmingly favour acceptance, they suggest that a plebiscite 1«* taken in Ireland. It is pointed out that the Had Euennil was elected before the British offer was made and it is intended that therefore it has no mandate to reject th- offer, ft is claimed that Irish o|iinion oxpivssed in Sinn now sji«i|<oi s strongly advocated acceptance throughout the negotiations. lamdon press reports from Hubiiii arc hopeful. THE. STALEMATE. PRESS COMAIENT. 'Received This Day at 0.40 a.m.) LONDON. Sept 10. Polirt* and military were engaged all night in raids in North Queen Street. Belfast, where shooting occurred earlier n the evening. The “Belfast Telegraph” declares: •■The truth is, Sinn Fein never had a will for peace, which therefore cannot lie achieved.” The Belfast “Newsletter” rays.— “There is no way to a settlement short of surrender of the Independence claim. Sinn Fein are now at the paitin,r of the ways for Ireland good or evil. The only hope lies in the abandonment of the impossible claim.’’ The “Northern Whig” says: “Do Hi-lei-i has forfeited all claim to courtesy and consideration from the British Government. Do Valent’s atomic throughout was not merely that of an ingrate, hut also that of a truculent nullify milt enemy of Britain.” SENSATION IN DUBLIN. (Received This Day at 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10. lion l.loyd George’s speedy reply caused a tremendous sensation in l.ubI lin, where it is considered the outlook was never betore so threatening. The Dail Eireann meets forthwith. The Irish Independent says:—We are loath to believe that the Premier’s lettor is the last word. A deadlock alter the recent mutual display of goodwill, would be disastrous. Wo fear lion Lloyd George’s note bears traces of hastv composition. The “Irish Times” says the n<ws will fill the Irish people with consternation, mid the world '.outside Ireland with anger and astonishment. Tf Stun Fein rejects the final wanting ami plunges the country intri chaos, it will be defying the hope and wishes ol nine-tenths of the* Irish people. “Freemans Journal” describes as an extravagant misconstruction the Pleader's statement that to confer oil terms of De Valera’s letter would tut an recognition of Ireland as an independent" Republic. Moreover the Journa 1 points out that Do Valera's-reply docs' not call for a formal preliminary recognition of the claim.