, 1921-07-14
Shuts Efforts Bring Renewed
Hope of Settlement of
the Irish Trouble.
MAY QUIT REPUBLIC" IDEA
De Valera and Others Show DISPOSE
tion to Yield-No improvement In
Near Eastern Mess-Germany
Expects Coup d'Etat-
Tariff Fight Is On.
BY EDWARD W. PIckARo.

" w iSfNNh0s
The entry of Jan Christian SHUTS
into the peace negotiations changed
the Irish situation over night. The
South African premier is regarded as
one of the most astute statesmen In
the world, and apparently Lloyd
George has done well In enlisting his
assistance. 1t now appears likely that
a peaceful settlement OF h Irish
trouble will be reached before long.
Optimistic persons were not dis
mayed by De Valera's tentative refusal
to attend the meeting in London pro
posed by Lloyd George and Sir James
Craig's refusal to confer with the Sim
Feiners and south Ireland unlonists In
Dublin. The latter conference vas
begun without representatives Of Ul-
ster, IN an attempt was made to
reconcile the positions of the Sim
Fein and the unionlsts, Then Gen
eral SHUTS slipped across to Dublin,
gave the leaders there a heart-to-heart
talk, and hurried back TO London to
report TO the English authorities.
What he told them gave rise TO the
most cheerful of predictions.
Though no official statements have
been Issued. It appears that this is
how matters now tand: The British
government is willing TO grant to Ire
land the fullest autonomy, patterned
after that enjoyed by South Africa
Ulster to he considered stin n part of
the dominion but having an autono-
nous government OF Its own, such as
that OF Natal. president De Valera,
Arthur Griffith, founder OF Sim Fein /;
Michael Collins and other republican
leaders are now willing that Ireland
shall remain n part of the British en-
pire-though they prefer the term
British commonwealth Of nations
provided their right Of secession Is
recognized. other prominent Sim
Feiners, comprising the in%tellectuals
and doctrinaires. insist Prime Minister
Lloyd George has not yet sufficiently
recognized the essential unity Of Ire
LAND and its right to self-determlna-
tion. All the Sim Feiners assert that
Ulster must accept her autonomy from
the supreme Irish parliament In Dub
lin. The task that remains is to recon
Gle these views and bring the Ulster
lies and southern unionists into
agreement with the compromise plan.
That this can be lone is the expressed
opinion OF some Of the chief figures
In the negotiations.
Says General SHUTS 81 think. | am
hopeful. | trust. that the question will
be solved and that thereby the British
empire will be freed from the imputa-
ton that In this ancient part of the
United Kingdom there stlll exists vio-
iation Of the fundamental principles
upon which the empire rests. | say
that the problem is soluble because |
have seen II solved In my own coun-
try under circumstances less embit-
tered thar in ireland hut certainly Of
a very difficult character. too"
De Valera. In his first authorized
statement since Lloyd Georges lnvi-
tation. says 1--WE trust that the Brit
ish prime minister's letter may prove
90 he the first step toward submitting
a civilized basis NJ right and reason
for that of bnrhHrlc violence In the
arbitration OF the question NJ issue
between Ireland and Great Britain.
should the conference now inltiat-
ed lead TO nm ultimate understanding
and lasting peace between the peoples
OF these two islands. which have been
In n state OF war. or suspended war,
for more than seven and n half en-
turtles, II will set n worthy Christian
precedent for the entire world.
British prestige win be restored,
young ireland Will live la history as