CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1921, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

THE IRISH PROBLEM. A CBHIAUAN AND N.Z. CAIH.E ASSOCIATION, DE VALERA’S CLAIM. LONDON, Sept. 1G Mr De Valera- telegraphed to Mr Lloyd George urging Sinn Fein’s right to enter a conference untrammelled. DE VALERA’S REQUEST. LONDON, Sept. 17 Mr I)e Valera has sent to Mr Lloyd George a request that Ireland be allowed to enter into a conference with England on an untrammelled basis, without conditions being beforehand imposed by the British Cabinet. UNTRAMMELLED CONFERENCE. LONDON, Sept. 17 It is lteliovod several Unionist Ministers will resign rather than agree to the Sinn Fein proposal for an untrammelled conference. LLOYD GEORGE’S REPLY. LONDON, Sept. 17 The London “Evening Standard’s” Inverness correspondent states: Mr Lloyd George has heard with amazement Sinn Fein’s published letter. He objected to it most emphatically. The fact that he was confined to his room did not prevent his immediately replying strongly. LLOYD GEORGE’S REASONS. FOR CANCELLING CONFERENCE. LONDON, Sept. 17 Mr Lloyd George, replying to Mr De Valera’s letter, points out that to meet the Irish Delegates a s the representatives of an independent Irish State, would constitute a formal recognition of Ireland’s severance from the King’s Domains, and would entitle them to make a treaty. It would, he said, equally entitle them to make no treaty and break off the conference at any point, and also enable them to negotiate a union of Ireland with a foreign power. It. also would enable them, if they insisted on another appeal to force, to claim from foreign powers by England s implicit admission, the rights of a lawful belligerent against the. King. If. he declared, the llritish Government dealt with them n> a sovereign independent state, England would have no right t,» complain of other powers lollowing that- example. Ills Government it as prepared to discuss how the association of Ireland with the llritish Empire could best he reconciled with Irish aspirations, but could not consent to any abandonmenthowever informal, of the princ.p'.e of allegiance to the King, on which ihe whole fabric of the Empire and every constitution within it, is based. M bile Mi- De Valera insisted on claiming that the Irish delegates should confer its representatives of an Independent sovereign state, a conference with them was impossible. SINN FEIN’S STAND. LONDON. Sept. 17. It is unofficially explained that the attitude of the Sinn Fein leaders is being interpreted iin the light of Mr De Valera’s telegram) being equivalent to the following:—“We cannot repudiate, as the preliminary to a conference, our republican declarations, but if a conference is held, and a satisfactory compromise is reached, it will be possible, and timely, for us to abandon the republican claims, and to tel! the Irish people that we have clone our best, and that a compromise is the utmost obtainable. Therefore w«. recommend you accept it.” It is also unofficially stated:— “It is doubtful if the Lloyd George Cabinet will pander to this punctilious attitude, involving the humiliation of waiving conditions requiring Ireland’s alleglauee to the llritish Crown.”

LLOYD GEORGE OPTIMISTIC. . LONDON. Sept. 17

The "Evening Standard’s” correspondent at Inverness says: Tbe Premier is optimistic that the Dail Eireann on second thoughts will see the wisdom of changing its attitude. THE PLACE TO SETTLE IT. LONDON, Sept. 17. Mr De Valera lias telegraphed to Mr Lloyd George as follows:—"I am surprised that you- do not see that it we accepted a conference on the basis of your letter of Sept. 7th, without making our position equally clear, then Ireland’s representatives would enter into a conference with their position misunderstood. Tiiis would cause Ireland’s right to be irreparably prejudiced. Throughout the correspondence you have defined your Government’s position. We have also defined ours. If these positions were not so definitely opposed, there would be no problem at all to discuss. ■‘lt should be obvioas, in a case like this, that if there is to be any result from the negotiations, both parties must meet without prejudice and he untrammelled by any conditions except those that are imposed by the facts ns they know them.” BRITISH CABINET MEETING. LONDON, Se.it. 10 It is understood that the Cabinet will be summoned as soon as Mr Lloyd George is well enough in connection with Ireland. Meanwhile, those -Ministers now in Scotland are probably meeting at Gairlocli. A REPORTED BRUSH. LONDON, Sept. 17 A force of police cyclists last night ; surprised a party of Sinn Feiners. They were drilling between Cookstown and Conch. They were fired on. They retired for reinforcements. Meanwhile a party of loyalists surprised, captured and disarmed the Sinn Feiners, while a patrol captured three evelist scouts with loaded revolvers. LLOYD GEORGE’S ILLNESS. j LONDON, Septemlier 17. An InVerness dentist lanced an abscess on Mr Lloyd George’s tooth, which was the eattse of his illness. Mr Lloyd George is now better.