New-York tribune., 1921-09-24
Cabinet Gets
Draft Of Reply
To De Valera
Some Advisers Of Premier
Insist Upon Sinn Fein's
Recognition of an AIli-
ancc With the Grown
Note Ready Next Week
General Feeling in England
Is Peace Conference Will
Be lin Session by Nov. /
By Arthur S. Draper
Fvem TAs 1ssaxm<'s Exropean Barer,,

FvesS ThS Tss5xw<s Emvopcan Rurerx
Copyright. issi. New York Tribune Inc.
LoNDoN, Sept. 23.--Nobody is OBJ
5ccting to Premier Lloyd Georges de-
lay in replying to Eamon de Valera,
the Sim Fein leader, but everybody
seems to be anxious to advise the
Premier what to say in his next note.
The differences OF opinion which
have arisen among Cabinet ministers
are reflected in the press, but there
is no question that the majority hope
and expect that a peace conference will
be held before the end of October
That the Sim Fein representatives
VIII be received at the conference as
the spokcsmen of their country. pro-
vided it is understood that the oucs-
ton Of independence shall not be
raised, seems fairly certain now. This
would satisfy majority of the Cabinet
and make the political position Of Dc
Valera much easier.
Several of Lloyd Georges advisers
are insistent that the alliance with the
British crown be not only implied. but
definitely recognized by the Sim Fein
before the conference. If too much in
slstence is put on this demand, though.
IT Is feared that De Valera might re-
fuse to come to the conference table.
Draft Is Being Studied
The PremieT's reply is not expected
to be sent to Dublin before next week.
The first draft of the communication
now is being circulated among the
Cabinet members, some of whom are
on the Continent,
:. A sinister development in the situa-
tion to-day was the renewal of
searches by auxiliary police of passen
gers and baggage arriving in Dublin by
the cross-Channel boats. Hitherto even
before the truce was proclaimed
searches have been made at the port
o. embarkation rather than at the mort
OF unloading. This first appearance of
she auxlllarles on active duty since the
.ruce u. went into effect is attributed to
the renewed activity of the Irish repub
lican army throughout the country. No
arrests or seizures were made.
IN dublin the prevailing opinion is
taaS peace prospects are Frightening.
Refiecting the view of many Enpl;sb-
men IS the following extract from "The
New Statesmen:
several correspondents have written
70 ask us whether in the event of the
present negotiations breaking down we
would support the government in a
renewal OF war against Ireland. 1t is
atwsys alsheuit 60 answer hypothe etical
esis is incompletely defined. We are
convinced that the present nepot;as
'tohS won't break down ultimately.
Reprisals Campaign
The supposition, however, is perhaps
worth discussing since discussion
may illustrate point which is of
great Importance. Under no conceiy-
able circumstance could we or anv
other organ of decent or democratic
English opinion support a renewal of
the atroclous 'reprisals campaign which
was initiated by the government twelve
months ago.
But supposing that the Sim Fein
leaders were to refuse (as they haven't
and wont) to discuss any offer of their
official demand for full independents
and separation, then we would suuport
the exercise of very strong pressure
which would amount to war; but would
not necessarily involve further blood
sned. And we should do SO on the
ground that the Irish leaders had failed
IN this matter to represent the real will
Of the Irish people.
For no one, so far as we know.
denles--it is, indeed, a governing fac
tor In the present situation-that the
enormous majority of the Irish wish
TO settle on dominion terms and, be-
lleving as we do that that is the proper
solution and any other would be more
or less disastrous, we should not be
prepared to adrnit the right of a little
group Of doctrinaire politicians (for
that is what, On this remote hypoth
es,s, they would have prorsd them
selyes> to block the way to it.
II ever there is to be stable settle
ment OF the Irish problem, it is neces-
sary to repeat, we must get down to
realities. The demand for a wholly in.
dependent Irish republic isn't a reality.
Even If 1t were really desired by a