NEW HOPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1921, Page 5

NEW HOPE.

SINN FEIN’S DECISION. AGREE TO CONFERENCE. SOME RESERVATIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyi,ght. London, Sept. 12. The Central News’ Dublin correspondent reports that a courier bearing the Dail Eireann’e answer has left for Inverness. The Dail Eireann is accepting the invitation to the conference with certain reservations, the chief of which is connected with the acknowledgment of allegiance to the Crown. The plenipotentiaries, who will be armed with full authority to conduct the really vital phases of the negotiations, have been chosen by the Cabinet, though the Dail Eireann has not authorised them to break off negotiations without the sanction of the full assembly of the Dail Eireann.

Mr. Arthur Griffith, Professor John McNeill, and Mr. D. C. Barton are mentioned as plenipotentiaries. Doubts are expressed as to the meaning of the word allegiance in the Sinn Fein reply. It is recalled that Mr. Lloyd George’s letter twice pointed out that there could not be a conference if allegiance to the Crown was repudiated, but as delegates have been appointed it is raeumed That the reservation will not

prove vital in Mr. Lloyd George’s view. CONFERENCE FAVORED. WISH OF IRISH PEOPLE. Received Sept. 13, 11.30 p.m. London, Sept. 12. The Dublin Nationalist Press now openly strongly favors the conference. Freeman’s Journal, assuming delegates are going to Inverness, says there is no doubt about the decision; it is what the vast majority of the Irish people have been expecting, and they will whole-heartedly approve of

it. De Valera received a deputation from the Londonderry Corporation, presenting the corporation’s resolution of allegiance to the Dail Eireann by the city of Londonderry, thus following the example of Tyrone and Fermanagh in an attempt to vote themselves out of the area of the Northern Parliament.

According to a Belfast message, the Ulster Cabinet, under the presidency of Sir James Craig, conferred with the officer commanding the northern area, and at its request he expressed willingness to increase the troops for the purpose of maintaining iftw and order.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.