The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-17
BRITISH CABINET
S0LIDLY BEHIND
LLOYD GEORGE
Sinn Fein Flatly Told That EN-.
pire Comes First.
Be No Farley With Erin as In
dependent Nation.
lARE NNn1ulnnnE nRnan
NOTE EXCHANGE IS RAPID
Irish and British Chiefs Use
Wire in Crisis.
Premier Says Secession From
Empire Cannot Be Considered. /

London, Sept. 1.-THE British
government stands pat on its condi-
ton that ireland must pledge al
legiance to the crown as an inherent
part of the empire before the peace
negotiations can be resumed.
Premier Lloyd George this after.
noon notified Eamonn De Valera to
this effect, in replying to the Irish
leaders conciliatory telegram yester-
day. Thus new climax was reached
in the quick fire diplomatic ex-
changes in which each side en-
deavored to throw the onus for a
rupture upon the other.
Would Mean Recognition.
To admit ireland to a conference
without such a pledge of allegiance
would mean Official recognition Of
Ireland's severance from the kings
domain" the premier said, and would
leave her free to negotiate ''union
with foreign powers"
IT idle to say" the premier de-
clared in his reply, that a conference
In which they had already met Mr.. de
Valera's delegates representing an in
dependent and sovereign state would
be conference without prejudice to
them. Such would constitute official
! the kings domain.
Lloyd George Emphatic.
1T would also entitle you. II you
insisted upon another appeal to force,
to claim from foreign powers by our
implicit admission, the right of law
ful- belligerents, for II we dealt with
you as a sovereign and independent
complain about other powers follow
! ing our example.
| The British government is pre-
pared to discuss how the association
OF ireland with the British empire
could best be reconciled with Irish as
pirations but it could not consent to the
abandonment. however, informal of
the principles of allegiance to the king
upon which the whole fabric OF the
empire is based"
Crisis Must Hang Fire.
The new Irish crisis is destined to
! hang fire" at least until Tuesday.
1t was announced at No 10
Downing street - the governments
eadquarters-early this afternoon
that no reply will be sent to Eamonn
de Valera's latest telegram to Pre-
mier Lloyd George until after the cab
met meeting Tuesday
1t was added that 1t probably would
be held here in London, which means
/ that the premier who has been indis-
posed is better, and probably will re-
day.
British Cabinet Solid.
The announcement that no COM
lmunication will be sent to Dublin be-
fore the cabinet meeting had two i'm
mediate results on public opinion:
/ First-It lessened the optimism with
which the day had opened and gave
rise to the opinion that the prime
minister will not bulge from his iron
clad demand that Ireland must enter
a new peace conference with an un-
equiVocal declaration of allegiance to
the British crown, as an inherent part
OF the empire.
Second-It showed that the premier
is no longer playing a lone hand in
the negotiations with Ireland, but is
determined to take the next step only
with a solid cabinet behind him.
Up To Lloyd George.
The press conceded with uncon-
cealed admiration for De Nalera's dip
lomatic tactics that the Sim Fein
attempt by the British premier to
throw the onus of a break up of ne
goiations on the Sim Fein shoulders.
By sending to the prime minister
shrewdly worded telegram. amounting
in sum to saying 1--WE are still willing"
the Irish republican president" it is
declared the responsibility for break
was thrown right back at Lloyd
George, and It is now the latter's move.
1t was recognized by close observ-
ers that much of the recent CORES
pondence between the two men around
whom evolved the question OF peace
or war in Ireland has been for effect
and that while both have been stead
fastly striving for a resumption OF
negotiations, their influence and
prestige demanded much verbal jock
eying in an effort to enter a fresh con-
ference with their respective home