OFFER TO SINN FEIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1921, Page 5

OFFER TO SINN FEIN.

NO AGREEMENT REACHED. FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS. TRUCE TO CONTINUE. B, Tclejranii.—Press Assn—Copyright. ra . . . „ London, Julv 21. Official: No basis for a formal Irish Acnference has been found. Mr. Lloyd George and De Valera had an hour s conversation this morning, but no basis was found on which the Government could summon a conference.

De Valera will return to Dublin tomorrow and will communicate with Mr. Lloyd George after further consultation with his colleagues. After De Valera left Downing Street General Smuts and Sir Hamar Greenwood, Chief Secretary for Ireland, saw the Premier.

OFFER OF DOMINION STATUS.

REFUSAL OF A REPUBLIC.

Received July 22, 8.5 p.m. London, July 21. It is understood that the proposals made by Mr. Illoyd George were such that De Valera could not recommend them as a basis for a conference without consulting the Dail Eireann. In the meanwhile the truce will be continued.

In the House of Lords Lord Curzon Mid that if the Irish negotiations were successful. and at present he was glad to any they seemed charged with hope, it was conceivable that Parliament would assemble in the autumn to deal solely with the Irish question. The Daily Express states that although © basis for a full Irish conference waa aot reached Mr. Lloyd George informed De Valera that if the southerners agree to work under the Home Rule Act and join in the request for greater powers with the Northern representatives in an All-Ireland Council the Government was prepared to grant Ireland a Dominion status on the -South African plan, with reservations safeguarding Imperial supremacy, Ulster, control of the ports, the navy and the army, giving Ireland police control and a special financial concession. Mr. Lloyd George stressed the point that there could be no republic and no coercion of Ulster.

De Valera replied that he was anxious for unity in the South in reference to whatever attitude Southerner* might take on the Government proposals. It was necessary that he should secure acceptance by the Dail Eireann and the support of Roman Catholic Bishops The spirit of the final interview was hopeful.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.