Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-29
LLOYD GEORGE SENDS
final Note IN REPLY
TO De vALERA'S Plea
London Sept. 29.-(By the A. P)-Prme
Minister Lloyd George today dispatched what was
expected to be the British governments final note
to Eamonn de Valera rel
ative to the holding of a
conference which would

ative to the holding of a
conference which would
seek to find basis for peace in Ire.
land. Before sending his note to Dub
lin, the prime minister had received
from members of his cabinet their
views as to the text of the commune
cation.
| The communication was considered
to be the British governments final
word In the exchange OF messages be-
tween London and Dublin.
| Mr.. Lloyd George informed Mr.. Dc
Valera, however, that the British gov
ernment could not alter its funda,
mental position, which was vital to
the empires existence. This position
was that Ireland could not be allowed
to separate from the British empire,
but must base her propositions upon
self-government as a member of the
sisterhood of British dominions.
Text Of Lloyd George Note.
Gairloch, Scotland. Sept. 30-The
text of Lloyd Georges reply to the
latest note from Eamonn de Valera,
which was dispatched to Dublin early
today, follows:
Sir His majesty's government
have given close and earnest con-
sideration to the correspondence
which has passed between us since
their invitation to you to send dele
gates to conference at Inverness.
"In spite of their sincere desire
for peace and in spite of the more
conciliatory tone of your latest COM
munications they cannot enter into
conference upon the basis of this
correspondence"
Notwithstanding your personal
assurance to the contrary which
they much appreciate, it might be
argued in the future that the ac-
ceptance of a conference on this
basis had involved them in a recOg-
milton which no British government
can afford. On this point they must
guard themselves against any pos
sible doubt There is no purpose to
be served by any further inter-
change of explanatory and argu-
mentative communications upon this
subject The position taken up by
his majesty's government is found
ed on the existence of the British
empire and they cannot alter it,"
"My colleagues and | remain,
however, keenly aXious to make, in
cooperation with your delegates,
another determined effort to ex-
plore every possibility Of settle
Dnapt hy pprcnDa1 6icpuceipn
"The proposal which we have al
ready made has been taken by the
whole world as proof that our en-
deavors for reconciliation and set
tlement are no empty form and we
feel that conference, not correspon-
dence is the most practical and
helpful way to an understanding
such as we ardently desire to
achieve.
1--WE therefore send you herewith
fresh invitation to a conference
in London on Oct. II, where we can
meet your delegates as the spokes-
men of the people whom you repre-
sent with view to ascertaining
how the association of Ireland with
the community OF nations known
as the British empire may be best
reconciled with Irish national as
pirations.
Dublin, Sept 29.-The Sim Fein
leaders were agreeably surprised by
the wording of Lloyd Georges reply,
and one member of the Dali cabinet
who saw it expressed the view that
the public confidence in the confer
ence being held was justified. Fore
casts in the newspapers had led the
republican leaders to believe that a
section of the rBitish cabinet had
succeeded in securig the insertion of
conditions which they must refuse.
A Dali minister said this afternoon:
The reply certainly is better than
we expected"