IRISH PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1921, Page 5

IRISH PROBLEM.

HIE LATEST MOVE.

MESSAGE FROM DE VALERA. QUALIFIED ACCEPTANCE. B* Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 20, 55 p.m. London, Sept. 19. Mr. De Valera, in his telegram to Mr. Lloyd George, says: “We have had no thought at any time of asking you to accept any condition precedent to the conference. We would have thought it as unreasonable to expect you, as a preliminary, to recognise the Irish Republic, formally or informally, as that you should expect us, formally or informally, to surrender our national position. It is precisely because neither side accepts any other position that there is a dispute at all, and that the conference is necessary to search for and discuss such adjustments as might compose it. “A treaty of accommodation properly concluded between the peoples of-these two islands and between Ireland and the group of States of the British Commonwealth would, we believe, end the dispute for ever, and enable the nations to settle down in peace, each pursuing its own individual development and contributing its quota to civilisation, but working together in free and friendly co-operation in affairs of agreed common concern. To negotiate such a treaty our respective representatives must meet. If you seek to impose preliminary conditions which we must regard as involving the surrender of our whole position they cannot meet. “Your last telegram makes it clear that

misunderstandings are likely to increase and the cause of peace is likely to be retarded by a continuance of the present correspondence. We request you, therefore, to state whether your letter of the 7th instant is intended to be a demand for surrender on our part or an invitation to the conference, free on both sides and without prejudice, should an agreement not be reached. If the latter, we readily confirm acceptance of the invitation, and our appointed delegates will meet your Government’s representatives at any time in the immediate future you designate.”—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

“OUT FOR REPUBLIC.” London, Sept. 19. Countess Markievicz states that the truce may be long or short, but they are out for a republic and would have it. At a Labor demonstration at Bray, near Dublin, the secretary of the Irish Labor Party said the Dail Eireann's demand for the allegiance of the people would not have the full effect unless the Dail Eireann assumed the responsibility of dealing with the problems of unemployment and the high cost of living. The assembly should regard this as a duty equally as important as defending Ireland’s independence, which would be comparatively useless unless those problems were dealt with beforehand. FRENCH VIEWS. London, Sept. 19. Paris newspapers are commenting on the Irish situation. The Figaro admires the energy with which Mr. Lloyd George has established England’s right not to permit the ex*istenee of any permanent menace at her door.

L’Action Francaise <ays that Mr. De .Valera realises that his opponent has the upper hand. Sinn Fein must submit to a compromise or burn its boats. L’Avenir says that until the present Sinn Fein has blocked the most elementary political step.