Evening star., 1921-09-25
BY HENRY w. BUM.
opyright, 1921. by The Washington star.)

. Copyright, 1921. by The Washington starl
~ HE following is brief summary of THE
most important news of the world for
the seven days ended September "a:
Il IREIAND.-De Valera's "self-recog-
milton" telegram did not mend matters. Re-
plying thereto by telegraph on the 18th. Lloyd
George declares that De Valera's subtle inter-
probation does not modify the claim that your
delegates should meet us as representatives of
a sovereign and Independent state" He takes
issue with De Valera's intimation that he
(Lloyd George) had in correspondence and in
effect recognized him (De Valera) president
of independent and sovereign Ireland.
Il invited you says Lloyd George. Ito
meet me, in the words of my letter. as the
chosen leader of the great majority of southern
Ireland and you accepted the invitation.
From the very outset of our conversations
l told you that looked to Ireland to own
allegiance to the throne and to make her future
member of the British commonwealth.
That was the basis of proposals and we,
cannot alter it.
THE status you claim in advance for
your delegates is in effect a reputation of
that basis l am prepared to meet your dele
gates as 1 met you in July in the capacity
OF the chosen spokesman for your people to
discuss the association of Ireland with the
British commonwealth.
My colleagues and 1 cannot meet them as
representatives of sovereign and independ-
ent state without disloyalty part to
repeat that unless the second paragraph of your
letter of the 18th is Withdrawn conference
between Is impossible
tin the paragraph referred to De Valera said
that. in view Of the fact that ireland has
formally declared it's independence and recog
nzes itself a. sovereign state, it is only as
representatives of that state and its chosen
guardians that We have authority OF. powers to
act on behalf of our people")
After consulting the dali ereann, the
9Th, De Valera Replied in telegram which
shall quote at length because what is i'm
portant thereof is the nuances. the shades.
which simply cannot be transferred to a di
gested statement.
we have had no thought at any time of
asking you to accept any conditions precedent
to a conference. We would have thought it
as unreasonable to expect you preliminary
to recognize the Irish republic formally in
formally that you should expect u.s. for
mally informally. surrender our national
position. 1t is precisely because neither side
accepts the position of the other that there is
dispute at all and that conference is neces
sary to search for and discuss such adjust
ments might compose it,
"A treaty of accommodation and association,
properly concluded between the peoples of these
two islands and between Ireland and the group
of states in the British commonwealth. would,
We believe, end the dispute forever and enable
the two nations to settle down in peace. each
pursuing it's individual development and
contributing its own quota to civilization. but
working together in free and friendly
operation in affairs of agreed common concern
ITO negotiate such treaty the respective
representatives of the two nations must meet,
but if you seek to impose preliminary cond-
tions which must regard involving the
surrender of whole position they cannot
meet.
I'VE request you to state whether your letter
of September is intended to be demand
for or n
a conference free both sides. and without
prejudice should agreement not be reached
IF the latter. readily confirm
ceptance of the invitation, and appointed
delegates will meet your government represent
atives at any time in the immediate future
that you designate"
Comment on the above is of various.
Some say it is meaningless others evasive.
others obstructive. but the majority opinion
seems to be that De Valera is in the case of
the lady who. saying she would neer consent.
consented: that. though in cloudy and circum-
lucotory language, his reply really does with