The Washington herald., 1921-12-05
London Says DaiPs Latest
Stand Creates Criti-
cal Situation.
ENGLAND REFUSES
COUNTER PROPOSAL
May Continue Truce to
Permit Premier to
Attend Farley.

LONDON, Dec. AFTER a hur-
riedly called conference at 10 Down
ing street, at which the Sim Fein
delegates delivered to Lloyd George
the Irish reply to the premier's
latest proposals for an Irish COM
promise 1t was admitted in govern
mcnt circles that the situation is
very unpromising."
Sim Fein's reply to Lloyd Georges
proposition is said to have been
practically an uncompromising re-
lection of the terms. which. in spite
of certain apendments proposed by
the Irish negotiators. creates the
most critical situation since the
parley began.
Regret Allegiance Clause.
Arthur Grifiith. +. c. Barton and
Gavan Duffy. bringing the reply
from Dublin. met Llyd George. Lord
Eirkenhead. Austen Chamberlain. n.
1nd Sir Robert Horne, ct the pre-
mier's residence. Lloyd George had
hurried from his country estate at
Chequers Court especially :or the
conference. Horne was includ@d n
the meeting, IT is believed, because
of difficulties with the financial
clauses Of tn" proposed agreement,
in which lie as chancellor II the
exchequer. is concerned.
1t is reported that the Dali
Eireann. to which the new plan
was submitted. was unable TO agree
to the allegiance clause. and that
it could not be Influenced to &C
cept the scheme by which Ulster
would be permitted to remain out
side
In reply to Sim Fein's counter
terms. it is understood, the govern
ment has stated fatty that this is
its last compromise scheme and
that IL will lot accept any devia-
tion from its provisions.
Mny Continue Trace Treaty.
In view of the seriousness e the
situation. which would seem TO
preclude further attempts at recon-
Ciliation. the government will now
direct its attention 10 arrangements
whereby the present truce may con-
tinue in effect Government repre-
sentatives to the original confer
Cnce VIII hold a session tomorrow
1t is learned that the discussion
OF Lloyd Georges proposals in Dub
lin developed continued reluctance
by De Valera and his faction to
acceptance of the fact of Ireland :
allegiance to the empire, and that
Just the day before the conference
the Irish president declared that
Sim Fein> will not depend on idle
resolutions. but on the determsna l.
tior of their hearts"
1t is De Valera's view that ac-
ceptance of allegiance to the Brit
ish crown means forswearing the
allegiance to the Irish republic.
Certain leaders have suggested a
sort of collective allegiance" in
which the Dali Eireann would eX-
press its adherence to the empire
but the members individually would
subscribe to no oath.
Expect Decision to he Delayed.
, The Sim Fein leaders, as a rule,
do not expect a final decision one
way or the other for several days
at least. They expect a series of
conversations with government off,
cials early in the week. and have
been asttte enough, even in de-
clining to accept the premier's pro-
posals, to word their reply so that
il could not provoke an abrupt can
collation. of the negotiations.
IT is admitted shat this Sim Fein
strategy is making it difficult for
Lloyd George to fulfill his intention
of going to Washington. but even
il no agreement can be found the
premier hopes to be able to extend
the truce to cover the preiod of
his absence from England.
May Prepare Political Program.
Lloyd George wants to leave
England within A week, for he be-
lieves the Washington conference
will reach its vital decisions before
Christmas-and his arrival in WASH
ington after that time would be in
the nature of an anti-climax.
There is an apparently we'll
founded report that the premier has
decided to call a meeting of the
coalition leaders soon, to prepare
a political program for submission
to the country in the event he de-
cides to call for a general election.
which he will certainly do if the
Irish situation becomes hopelessly
deadlocked.