PEACE MOVES:

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1921, Page 5

PEACE MOVES:

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED. i -4t. "THE REPUBLIC IS DEAD,” SEEKING ALTERNATIVE POLICY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Received Jan. 6, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 5. The Irish Office informed the Australian Press Association that Archbishop Clune is regarded as the most hopeful instrument for mediation, and Mr. Lloyd George recalled him as part of his pledge to exploit every avenue leading to a settlement. Archbishop Clune made several visits to Dublin recently, and the closest Secrecy was maintained respecting his movements, at his own request. It is believed the direction in which Archbishop Clune is working is to meet the Dail Eireann and frankly submit the view that the Republic is dead, and insisting on the discovery of an alternative policy. Archbishop Clune is continuing his negotiations. Replying to a request by the Australian Press Association to disclose the nature and progress of his negotiations, he regretted that the time was not opportune to grant an interview or issue a statement. They had not yet reached a state at which a statement could profitably be made. Therefore he was consistently declining to see the Press either in England or in Ireland.— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.

DE VALERA’S MISSION. WILL HE ASSIST PEACE? London, Jan. 4. It is now accepted as true that De Valera reached Ireland last week. It is understood that the Government does not desire to molest him. On the contrary, it is prepared to grant him a safe conduct if his presence will assist the peace prospects. The Daily Express says that the Premier is willing to meet De Valera if the latter is able to offer tangible results. The Daily Express states that Mr. Lloyd George is ready to grant a safe conduct to De Valera, negotiate with him directly and amend Home Rule to suit the Sinn Fein. NO PEACE OVERTURES. AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. Received Jan. 6, 10.5 p.m. London, Jan.- 5. An official message states that no guarantee of safe conduct has been granted to De Valera, nor has an application been made for it. No overtures have been received from Sinn Fein for a conference. —Aus. and N. 7 Cable Assn. Dr. Clune is widely known throughout the Roman Catholic dioceses of New Zealand and Australia From 1904 to 1909 he was Superior of the Redemptionist houses in New Zealand, and was conducting a mission in Auckland when he was appointed rector of the North Perth Monastery. He became Bishop of Perth in 1910, and archbishop in 1913. He is a native of Ireland, having been born in County Clare in 1864. Discussing his appearance in Irish politics, the Daily Mail a fortnight ago stated that great importance was attached to Dr. Clune’s interview with the Prime Minister, and inquiries were being made relative to the authenticity of the message he had delivered from the Sinn Fein. The whole position had been considerably changed by the messages. “Dr. Clune,” ■ proceeded the writer, “has become famous in a day. Last week he was unknown, even to the Lonion Irish, but to-day he is the most prominent figure in public affairs, and all >yes in Britain are on him. The interest Is possibly greater because he is somewhat of a mystery man. He has not appeared publicly, and no journal has published a picture of him. He sleeps at the Jermyn Court Hotel in Piccadilly, but is out all day in the street. He is besieged by journalists, vainly endeavoring to overcome his firm refusal to be interviewed. Even his secretary declines to meet anybody, and the hotel staff has been ordered not to inform people who telephone.” The London Evening News stated that Dr. Clune, despite his own moderation, contrived to secure the confidence of Michael Collins and other Sinn Fein leaders, and to obtain assurances sufficient for him to approach Mr. Lloyd George, his conferences with whom resulted in an agreement on a broadbasis pn all points except the two most important: First, the Government demand that the rebels should lay down their irms; and, second, the Sinn Feiners’ iemand that an amnesty should include everybody. , Dr. Clune contended that the first demand was impossible, as many outlying parts of Ireland were uncontrolled,’even by the extremists. He asked Mr. Lloyd George were the Allies able to compel all the Germans to lay down their arms at the moment of the armistice. The Government met the Sinn Fein demand by asserting that no amnesty could be granted for the leaders. Dr Clune retorted, quoting the cases of Botha and De Wet, who were not excluded from the amnesty when peace negotiations in South Africa were begun. The London Evening News understood that Mr Lloyd George agreed that there was some reason in Dr. Clune’s line of argument, and hinted that Mr. Bonar Law substantially agreed.