New-York tribune., 1921-09-30
Proposal Sets Aside All
Previous Notes and In
vites Open Discussion
to Reconcile Programs
Dali Meets To-day
To Consider Reply
Impression in Dublin
Favorable; Moderates
Now Control Sim Fein
By Arthur S. Draper
From The Tribune's European Bureau


LONDON, Sept. 29.-Premier Lloyd
George. in a telegram to-day to Eamon
de Valera, renewed his offer to meet
the Sim Fein leaders in conference to
find the basis of an Irish peace. He
suggested that the spokesman for
southern Ireland come to London on
October IL for a personal discussion
of the question chow the association
of Ireland with the community of ma
tions known as the British Empire may
best be reconciled with Irish national
aspirations"
The Premier said the proposed con-
ference could not be based on the cor
respondence that had previously passed
between De Valera and himself, as
that might be regarded in the future
as implying q recognition of 1reland's
sovereignty, which no British govern
ment could give. He insisted, how
ever, that a sincere effort would be
made at the conference table to explore
every avenue to peace.
Note Regarded as temperate
The reply which was dispatched from
Gairloch, Scotland, where the Premier
is passing his vacation, is regarded
here as temperate and conciliatory, but
finn. The Premier twice remarks that
nc purpose can be served by "any
further interchange of explanatory and
argumentative communications"
The whole Cabinet had been can
vassed before the note was dispatched
and it must be regarded in Dublin as
tho last word of the British govern
ment. De Valera must now answer
either yes or no, for this time Lloyd
George refused to raise any debatable
question.
Advices from Dublia say that the
note, received there shortly after
noon, made a favorable impression in
Sim Fein official circles and it is
confidently expected that this invita-
tion to new conference will be ac-
cepted. De Valera discussed the con
tents of the note with Arthur Grif-
fifth, founder and vice-president of Sim
Fein, and planned reply, but this will
not be dispatched before tomorrow
parliament, will be consulted. Some
members of that body's executive com
nittse are absent from Dublin tonight
or the Lloyd George note would have
been considered in special session
Several members of the Dali have ex.
pressed themselves as pleased with the
terms of the invitation.
Moderates Control Sim Fein
Other reports from Ireland say that
in the last fortnight troops have been
moved about as if the military were
preparing for an emergency. The long
delay in the negotiations between
Lloyd George and De Valera has not
improved the atmosphere for making
a satisfactory settlement, but on the
other hand, peace continues to be up
permost in the minds of the people
1t is reported that the moderate re-
publicans are now the dominant force
in the Sim Fein party councils and
that De Valera will not be as embar-
rassed in accepting the invitation tc
the London meeting as he would have
been if he had agreed to meet Lloyd
George at Inverness.
In Belfast the sectarian war is be.
coming more serious every day. The
police and military are issuing regular
communiaues, in which they attempt to
fix the blame for the disorders. In the
last thirty-six hours there have beer
several sporadic outbreaks in different
parts of the city. According to mill,
tsry report, the first attack was made
by a group of Protestants on body OF
Catholic workmen. Reprisals followed
quickly, and then counter reprisals, and
so on through all last night.
The police used their clubs freely
Shots were fired on both sides, and, al
though only one death was reported
the number of injured is large.
The possibility of a general election
throughout Great Britain increases
every day. Regardless of whether Dc
Valera accepts Lloyd Georges invita-
tion, it seems certain that the Premier
intends to ask the country to indorse
his Irish policy at the polls. If hostili
ties were to be renewed in Ireland the
political repercussion which would fol.
low might change the old order anc
Continued on page fve)