The Columbia evening Missourian., 1921-10-08
AMERICANIDEA
MAY CLEARUP
IRISHQUEsTION
British Look Favorably on Pro-
posed Alternative to Re.
newal of War of
Suppression.
WOULD ISOLATE IRELAND
Plan Includes Withdrawal of
Troops and Covermenal
Machinery and De-
claring Blockade.
By X. WALTER

IdSDoN. tBy Mail.l = American
craftsmanship may now provide way
out Of the Irish dilema TIE British Gov.
ernmeni's policy was defined for me in
the form Of question not so long ago
by one of Mr.. Lloyd Georges closest
friends, who asked. did think 100000
casualties would be too big price TO
pay for an Irish settiement?-and ii was
asked in tone which presupposed
negative reply. To that policy Mr..
Lloyd George is very deeply committed
by the fundamental facts Of his present
political existence. and consequently few
people in England could see any alter
native to a renewed war Of suppression
when the negotiations broke down.
But there is unfolding today an al
tentative in the minds Of the British gov
eminent. 1t was planted there as long
ago as last spring, when certain Ameri-
can statesman. seriously concerned with
lrelsnd's fate, and England's, most care
fully and vigilantly canvassed ii in po-
litical and diplomatic circles here, not
as his own idea (which il wasD but as
political gossip. The guerilla warfare in
ireland was then assuming such dimen-
sions that any practical alternative to
the use Of military power was welcomed.
and many who heard it expounded de-
clared it TO be most expedient ana
merciful manner Of enabling the British
government 10 spare Ireland and Eng.
land the horror Of further casualties with
out obliging the government to abandon
their physical force policy.
Briefly, the suggestion is combina-
zion Of withdrawal and blockade-the
withdrawal being civil as well as military
but without taking the irrevocable step
of recognizing the independence Of the
Irish Republic. There would have to
be enormous changes in English opinion
before any such recognition could be
possible-changes almost unimag aginable
without other and greater changes COM
ing over this countY.) The first step
il tie procedure suggested was TO be a
truce, and the thoroughness with which
the truce has actually been observed has
been striking answer to THOSE who OBJ
jected TO the American plan on the
ground that even this first step would be
one Of much doub, and difficulty. The
truce being established honorably on
both sides, the British government would
be free to Withdraw its soldiers and po-
lice without great military or moral in
convenience. The 26-possihly 29-
counties Of Ireland would simply be left
TO themselves. All British grants and
pensions would Of course cease; but on
the other hand no attempt would be
made 10 collect the Kings taxes. There
would be no fighting in Ireland, not at
any rate between Irish and English. be-
cause there would be no English to fight.
But the sea ports would be strictly
guarded by the British navy, and in or.
der to prevent the importation Of arms
foreign commerce would be carried on
only under special license and strict
surveyance; beyond that England would
hope TO forget Ireland and turn over on
the other side and get little sleep.
But the interesting thing about the
comments. both private and public. was
the favor the scheme found in such wide.
ly different quarters. y
There is no doubt whatever that if the
English people were given the choice
between fighting the Irish and leaving
them to fight each other. they would pre-
fer to see fair play; there would not be
30 many recruits for Ulster today.