Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-19

In Iris h
Situation
Ulster Delegation Returns to
Belfast to Confer With
Other Members on Sinn
Fein Demands.
Opposes De Valera Plan
BY The Associated Press.

tlOH, IL Was ueCldItu III IcpOitS ~
night, has developed into virtually a
deadlock between Premier Lloyd
George and Sir James Craig, the
Ulster premier, and the latter has
been given an opportunity to 60 to
Belfast to see if anything can be
done in the circumstances. The Sim
Fein leaders have submitted their
minimum demands which have been
relayed to the Ulsteh premier for
consideration, it is stated, and it is
in connection of such consideration
that Sir James and the other men,
bers of the Ulster delegation are, as
was announced this evening, return
ing to Belfast.
The Ulster leader maintains that
the Sim Feiners by contesting the
elections for the northern parliament
on a platform of mo PARTITION" in
which they were defeated, have rec
ognized listers claim to self-de-
termination and he seems to wash
his hands of further participation in
peace negotiations.
Sir James said: II return home
we'll satisfied with the efforts being
made towards peace. Mr.. de Valera
has broken his silence and cleared
the ground by his statement of the
press that he proposes to found his
claim on recognition of the right of
self-determination."
He contended that the people of
northern Ireland in the recent cleo
tions determined" their own parlia-
ment by an overwhelming majority.
Reject Partition Issue.
mo partition" was the only issue
placed before the electorate, said Sir
James, and it was rejected by the
largest majority ever secured in any
general election.
"Such being the true facts" he
contended, 1T now only remains for
Mr.. de Valera and the British people
10 come to terms regarding the area
outside of that of which l am
premier. The people of northern
Ireland make no claim to determine
the terms of settlement which Great
Britain shall make with southern
Ireland.
Il "lNhen this is accomplished can
promise cordial cooperation on
equal terms with southern ireland in
any matters affecting our common
interest"
The official announcement issued
az the close of long conference be-
tween the premier and Mr.. De Val
era today says:
"The conversations between Lloyd
George and Mr.. De Valera will be
resumed Thursday"
This ordinarily would permit the
British public and ireland still to in
dulge in confident hope that salts
factory settlement would ultimately
pc reached. But Sir James Craig's
statement has put damper on the
hopeful spirit.
Meetings Are Secret.
Nothing is allowed to leak as to
what takes place behind the closed
doors of the cabinet rooms, and the
secrecy even extends to tacit agree
ment to put no questions on the sub
ject in parliament. The negotiations
have all the character of diplomatic
exchanges between two foreign dip
lomats.
Though it had been thought pos
sible from the first that Ulster might
adopt such an attitude, this sudden
dashing of hopes that peace con-
ference would be assembled as an
outcome of the separate negotiations
of the premier with De Valera and
Craig, comes as a shock to the pub
lie.
The Ulster premier now declares
bluntly that the British government
must reach its own agreement with
De Valera and that Ulster is deter
mined to maintain its present status,
repudiating the whole Sim Fein
argument that Ulster is in the minor
ity and must bow to the majority in
ireland.
Lloyd George conferred with the
Ulster premier alone. The members
of their respective cabinets accom-
panied both Irish representatives, but
so far as is known did not partici-
pate in the conferences with the
premier.
May Call OF Meeting.
New York, July ia proposed
world conference of the Irish race
to be held in Paris early next year
probably will be Cancelled if present
between Premier Lloyd
George and Emonn de Valera are
successful, Harry Boland, the latter's
representative, announced today. The
Irish self-determination league of
Great Britain had begun the organ
ization of the conference on the sug-
gestion of the Irish republican as
sociation of South Africa.
Irish Representatives from every
state of the United States, Canada,
South Africa, South Amer
ica, Spain and France were to attend.