IRISH DEADLOCK.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1921, Page 5

IRISH DEADLOCK.

NEW TERMS REJECTED. SINN FEIN’S DECISION. PEACE IN DANGER. BRITISH CABINET MEETS. Sinn Fein has rejected the last offer : jr a settlement of the Irish problem, and a new deadlock, charged with grave possibilities, has arisen. The British Cabinet has been summoned. Sinn Fein is not yielding on the question of allegiance, and reiterates its demand for an independent Republic. A fortnight remains under the terms of the truce to devise a way to prevent a recurrence of war. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyrigtt. Received Dec. 5, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 5. • Sinn Fein has rejected the terms. Cabinet has been summoned for noon to-day. indicating that the Irish question □asses temporarily from the hands of the SoveramoDt’a peace representatives. A further meeting his not been arranged with Sinn Ferners, who remain meantime in London.

What is going to be done must be done io-day, in view of Mr. Lloyd George's □ledge to Sir Janies Craig (Premier of Northern Ireland) that negotiations would ;nd Hefiniudy to-day. If the worst comes, t fortnight remains under the terms of the nice to devise a way to prevent reversion to war.

According to the Daily Telegraph’s Dublin correspondent, the Dail Eire an n spent less time considering Mr. Lloyd George’s □Her than in discussing the possibility of continuing the truce if the conference fails M agree.

Sinn Fein is not yielding on the question of allegiance, but continuing its demand for an independent republic. It is also not likely to agree as a condition of ! the truce that it should return to the . state of things prevailing before the re- . public was proclaimed. On the other hand, if the Government accepts the present situ- ' ation as a basis of a scheme for preserving ‘ peace, acceptance will undoubtedly be | claimed as a recognition of the republic. * If peace is preserved, despite the failure | of the conference, certainly there will not ' be the same terms as during the truce. I If it is impossible to agree to the plan 1 of postponing hoetilit.es until the prospect of a settlement is brighter the position in- I deed will be exceedingly grave. De Valera, speaking at Galway, said: ! “When we started our programme we counted the cost, and we are not going to quail now, even though a certain price for freedom has to be paid. Freedom was never won without sacrifice. The country must be as prepared now as in the past.’’ — Cable Assn. THE NEW STAGE. DRAMATIC PROGRESS. London. Dec. 3. The new stage of the Irish negotia" tior.s is proceeding in a most drain manner. Mr. Collins and other dele* gates departed for Dublin on Friday and embarked on the Cambria, which steaming at 21 knot*, collided with and Bank an English schooner, three of whose crew were drowned. The Cambria was compelled to return to Holyhead and the passengers, re-embarking, geached Dublin yesterday forenoon. The Sinn Fein members of Cabinet, including Mr. De Valera, were awaiting the delegates, who handed over Mr. Lloyd George’s offer. There was a protracted conference lasting seven hours after which the delegates 'imiqediately re-embarked with the Sinn Fein reply, which is expected in London to-day. In view of Sir James Craigs declaration that he must be acquainted with the reply by Tuesday at the latest, or Ulster would not participate in the negotiations, the delegates’ determi nation to deliver the document to Mr. Uoyd George at the earliest moment is regarded as most significant.