Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-26
No Irish Peace
Unless Sim Fein
Recognizes King

| London. Nov. 25--fBy A. Ply
What is feared to be the last scene
in the effort to bring peace to Ireland
was. enacted today when Prime Min
lister, Lloyd George and Sir James
Craig met in the formers official
residence in Downing street, where
the imperial premier told the head
of the Northern government that
Sim F'ein Ireland had not consented
to own allegiance to the king. pre-
requisite to listers agreement to
enter an all Ireland parliament.
The Sim Fem delegates arc con-
sulting with members of the Dali
cabinet in Dublin on the crisis thus
brought about while Sir James pack
ed his bag and returned to Belfast,
where he will report to his parlia-
ment next Tuesday and possibly dis
close the cause of the virtual break
down of the Irish negotiations. The
| official correspondence that has pass
ed between the various delegations
| also may be published at the same
| time in London.
| Week end efforts, meanwhile, will
be made by peace makers in an at
| tempt to persuade the Sim F'ein to
modify it's attitude on the question
| of allegiance TO the king. The Dali
| Eireann members have taken the
| oath of allegiance to the Irish repub-
! lie. and thus far they have refused
| to substitute for it recognition, with
in Ireland. of King George. The
| furthest concession from the Sim
-, l., -
recognize the king as the formal
| president of the community of free
nations which Ireland might choose
voluntarily to join. but even this was
not definitely promised,
Lord Chancellor Brkenhead and
! Attorney General Hewart, law officers
| of the Crown, have ranSacked the
| constitutions Of all the British domin-
| ions to find any precedent for the
only kind Of relationship with the
British Crown that Sim Fein will
consider, but nothing can be found,
| and the Evening News the first Lon
! don newspaper to indicate the real
cause of the crisis. suggests that the
| relations OF Bavaria with Prussia in
| the German empire might furnish
such precedent.
! But Mr.. Lloyd George, il is under
! stood. would not admit of any ar
rangemcnt which would leave Ire
| lands allegiance to the Crown in any
doubt. and the government would
support Ulster in refusing any as
ISOLATION which would weaken it's
British citizenship.
The only prospect for peace now Is
said to rest on the Sim Fein's con-
ceding allegiance to the Crown and
the influence of the advocates of
moderation has been invoked in a
final effort to change its position.
The question is being put as to
whether the point is worth renewed
warfare. for a breakdown of the ne
gotiations on that issue. it is be-
lieved. would be followed. either be-
fore or after the general election. by
the handing of Ireland to military
rule and the displacement of The
civilian officials in Dublin Castle, to
whose inflence is attributed the pre-
vious failure Of military measures.
All along the Sim Fein delegates
have held the belief that. no matter
what the result OF the negotiations
might be. the British public would
oppose the employment of the MILL
tary: and in this they have the sup
port of former Premier Asquith. who
at a meeting Of the Liberal Fedora
ton today said the Liberal party had
rot feceded from any pledge given
against the foreible coercion Of the
Ulster minority. At the same time
he asked all Liberals to assent to the
proposition that 1t was equally true
that they were not going to be party
at the instance or for the same of
corner OF Ulster. to coercion of the
great mass Of Irish people. -uannaanns>e