IRISH PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1921, Page 5

IRISH PEACE.

A FEELING OF HOPE. SINN FEIN’S ANSWER SOON. DE VALERA EXPECTED TO ACCEPT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Received June 28, 8.45 p.m. London, June 28. It is understood the Dail Eireann is meeting in Dublin to-morrow to consider the invitation to De Valera to meet the British Government and discues a settlement. All circles in Dublin display a hopeful feeling, and the belief is growing that De Valera will accept. Mr. Barry Egan, Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, interviewed, expressed the opinion that Irish peace was immediately possible provided the British Government’s move was sincere, but Ireland was unlikely to accept any less proof of sincerity than the immediate withdrawal of the* Auxiliaries (“black and tans”). As soon as this was effected the Irish Republican Army’s fighting cease. Sinn Fein would enter the conference with a most sincere desire to seek a mutually acceptable settlement, which he was confident could be discovered once Britain sacrificed her pride and withdrew the Auxiliaries, not the Regular Army, with which they had no quarrel. Permanent peace would give Britain a valuable neighbor and ally, capable of producing five times its present output of foodstuffs and buying correspondingly more manufactures from Britain. Mr. Egan did not think Dominion selfgovernment sufficient, owing to the fear of subsequent intriguing on the part of the British Government, of which Ireland had bitter past experiences. He thought international guarantees of Ireland’s integrity, similar to the case of Belgium, would be demanded. He believed Archbishop Clune came within an ace of reaching a settlement, but between the meetings and conferences various leading Irish clergy appealed for a truce of God, which Cabinet misinterpreted as a sign of weakness and division between the clergy and Sinn Fein, whereupon they broke off the negotiation®. After that the Cork fire occurred, stiffening the Irish people’s resistance. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH DE VALERA. PROCEEDING FOR SOME TIME. Received June 29, 12.10 a.m. London, June 27. The Morning Post’s Belfast correspondent states that it is now known that Mr. Llbyd George and De Valera have been corresponding for some time past, and the rebel leader must have been prepared for the invitation to a conference. On the other hand Sir James Craig was taken by surprise. He will not give more away or discuss the scrapping of the Home Rule Act. He came to Ulster in response to the loyalists’ call, and will not betray them.— 'Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SOUTHERN PARLIAMENT. PREPARATIONS FOR OPENING. Received June 29, 12.10 a.m. London, June 27. Workmen are erecting a dais at the Dublin Board of Agriculture building and preparing seats for the meeting of the Southern Parliament to-morrow. The military are in charge of the hall. The Lord Justices will attend at three o’clock. No individual notices have been issued to membere.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ULSTER SUSPICIONS. OF PROPOSED CONFERENCE. London, June 27. The Ulster Press views the conference with suspicion. The Northern Whig declares that Mr. Lloyd George is not treating Sir James Craig fairly in asking him to meet De Valera, whose hands are steeped in the blood of hundreds of innocent policemen, soldiers and civilians.

The News Letter states that the question is whether the Sinn Fe.iners are prepared to come to the conference on the basis of the abandonment of their demand for a republic. That must be so, else the Imperial Government would be a traitor to us and the King. POLICE AMBUSHED. London, June 27. A R.I.C. patrol was ambushed at Bally-castle, Mayo. The police took cover, killed one rebel and captured five with arms, ammunition,and important documents. Another patrol was ambushed at Miltown, Galway, and two police were shot dead.