The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-09-09
ARTHUR GRIFFITH
WILL REPRESENT
IRISH REPUBLIC
De Valera Does not Desire to
Attend Conference
TO HURRY NEGOTIATIONS
No Delay Expected in Forward
ing Reply to Premier
Lloyd George

Dublin, Sept. 8. (Asaoclated Press
There was rumor current in Sim
Fein circles today that II plenipoten-
tiarIes are appointed for the confer
ence at Inverness with representatives
OF the British cabinet named to deal
with irish peace terms, Eamonn De
Valera does not desire to be one Of
them
The pres dent OF the Irish republic
Is willing to leave negotiations with
Arthur Griffith. Sim Fen minister OF
foreign affairs.
Desmond + tzgerald, Sim Fem min.
lister OF propaganda, said that he ex.
pected there would be no unneces-
sary delay in the making of the reply
TO Minister Lloyd George.
Those in touch with republican
leaders regard it as almoat certain
that they will accept the invitation Of
Premier Lloyd George to meet him to
discuss the Irish question. The Sim
Fein leaders decline to discuss pub ic-
ly their probable act on on the latest
letter from Lloyd George, inviting
Sim Fein plenipotentiares to meet
him at Inverness. Scotland. on the
goth.
Probable lpotentaries.
Arthur Griffith as foreign minister
certainly would be one of the pleni
potentiaries, while Michael Collins,
commander of the Irish Repub ican
army and finance minister is a pos
sib lty. Prof John MacNeil is con-
sidered likely selection al he is
distinguished scholar and speaker. He
is also native of County Antrim
and a member OF Parliament for Der
ry, both within the area of the north.
ern Parliament Therefore he is con
sidered the best exponent of the at.
titude of the Ulster Nationalist minor.
ity.
Lloyd George letter leaves for
further conference all points of OBJ
lection raised by De Valera and goes
back to the sole condit on under which
the origina' negotiations at Downing
street are understood to have taken
place.
London Sept. 9.-The text Of Pre-
mier Lloyd Georges letter, which was
despatched to Dublin from Inverness,
Scotland. in answer to the latest note
from Eamon de Valera, the Irsl
leader, follows.
Ills Majestys Government have
considered your letter Of August 30
and have to make the following obser-
vations upon il:
The principle Of government by
the consent of the governed is the
foundation of the British constitution
al development, but we cannot accept
as a basis of practical conference
an Interpretation OF Sat principle
which would commit us to any de-
mands you might present, even to the
extent OF setting up republic and
repudiating the Crown.
"You must be aware that confer
ence on such basis is impossible.
SO applied, tive principle Of govern
ment by consent of the governed
would undermine the fabric of every
democratic state and drive the ciyili2
ed world back into rebellion. On the
otter hand. we have invited you to
discuss our proposals on their merits
I'm order that you may have no doubt
as to the scope and sincerity of our
intentions.
ut would be open to you IN such a
conference to raise the subject OF
guarantees on any points in which
YOU may consider Irish freedom prelu-
dice by these proposals His MaJes-
TVS Government are loatl to believe
that you will insist upon rejection OF
their proposals without exam ng
them in a conference
ITO decline to discuss a settlement
which woud bestow upon the lrlsh
people the fullest freedom for nation
al development within the empire can
only mean that you repudiate all al
legiance to the Crown and all mem
bership in the British Commonwealth
...... 40 1pnW this inference