Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-07-16
IRISH LEADERS, IN.
PUBLIC SPEECHES.
SEE PEACE AHEAD.
LONDON CONFERENCE, THEY
MAINTAIN, PUTS ERIN IN A
BETTER POSITION THAN IT
EVER OCCUPIED sEFoRE-AN.
OTHER CONFERENCE MONDAY.

Belfast Ireland July 1G.-Sir James
Craig, Ulster premier, in a message
to war memorial meeting in Castle
Dawson, County Londonderry, today,
declared that the British empire, for
which the soldiers in whose honor
the meeting was held, made the sll.
preme sacrifice, would never be weak.
ened by any action of his.
"You may rest assured" said Sir
James, that | will see to it that the
empire in whose name they laid down
their lives is not weakened by any
action of mine. They trusted us to
give nothing away and their trust
will never be betrayed"
j. r. Birmingham, Sim Fein men,
Der of the British house of commons
for the east division of Wicklow, ac.
knowledging today the congratua.
tions of the county council on his re.
turn to that county, said none of
those with whom he was associated
might reveal the results of the Lon
don conference. He said no one
would disclose what had taken place
but the country was never in a bet
ter position than it is today. All in
dications, he said, pointed to peace
Meet With Advisers.
London, July 16.-Prime Minister
Lloyd George and Eamonn de Valera,
Irish republican leader, were expected
to hold conferences with their rcspec
tive advisers today preparatory to
their meeting on Monday. These con-
terences between leaders and advis.
erS were expected to have an impCr.
tant bearing on the future progress
CT the conversations begun on Thurs.
day and continued yesterday. MIR. De
Valera remained at his hotel here anG
the prime minister went to his coun-
try home at Chequcrs Court for the
week end, but did not look forward
to any material relaxation of the
strain of the last week.
1t would appear that the discussions
between Mr.. Lloyd George and Mr.
De Valera have developed the subject
of a future tri-partite conference be.
tween the Irish republicans, repre-
sentatives of Ulster and the British
government sufficiently for the prime
minister to lay before Sir James
Craig, premier of Ulster, definite prop
ositions Sir James was closeted
with Mr., Lloyd George yesterday
after Mr.. De Valera had left Downing
street and it became known later that
several members of the Ulster cabi
net had been called to London. Be-
lief was expressed in responsible
quarters that Sir James wished to
consult his colleagues before commit
ting himself as to certain phases Of
the situation that have developed as
result Of Mr. De Valeras visit to
London.
There was no suggestion that the
breyity Of yesterdays conversation be-
tween the prime minister and Mr. De
Valera indicated that they had reach
ed deadlock, nor was the postpone
mcnt of the conference until Monday
looked urOn as significant of danger
to the future Of the negotiations. In
fact, there seemed last night to be a
relaxation of the tension which pre-
vailed eli Thursday and Friday AMI
the impression gained was that, while
the situation had lost none of its deli
cacy, some progress had been made.
A statement made at De Valcra's
headquarters during the evening ap-
peared to reflect the determination of
the Irish republicans not to meet Sir
James Craig, at least for the time
being. 1t was indicated he had for
teited his right to enter the confer
enCe by refusing to meet the Irish re-
publicans at Dublin, although South
Irish unioniSts had awaited themselves
of the chance to talk over matters
with the republicans. 1t was stated
the republicans looked upon the pres
ence of unionists at the Dublin con.
ference as representation of the I'M
iCnists from North Ireland and the
absence of Sir James barred him from
participation in discussions involving
the relations of England and Ireland
Sir James was to be considered. it
was said, only in matters which con.
cerned internal politics.
Failure Means More War.
Dublin, July 16.-Commenting on
the conference between Eamonn de
Valera and Prime Minister LLOYD
George in London, the Irish Bulletin
today declared:
'If peaceful settlement should be
denied the Irish people will resume
armed resistance to foreign domna-
ton. They posses the will, and by en-
durance, the power to bring their fight
eventually to success"