New-York tribune., 1921-09-19

No Farley Unless Second
Paragraph in Irish Re-
ply Is Stricken Out, Is
Premier's Final Edick
Sim Fein Head i'm |
Awkward Position
Erin Holds Delay in Cone
ference Is Dangerous
Fearing New Outbreak
By Arthur S. Draper
From. The T,'oa'se's Esropean Bureau

Copyright, 1921. New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, Sept. 1S.-Prenaiea
Llyod George, in another telegrarA
tonight to Eamon de Valera, pinned
the Irish leader down to a definite
choice of withdrawing his claim for
an independent Irish republic or
foregoing the hope of a renewal Of
peace negotiations. Lloyd Georges
newest communication In the long
series of interchanges between hins
and De Valera, extending from juno
onward. seems to leave the Sinn
Fem spokesman no further oppors
tunity for splitting hairs.
There is every evidence that the
break in the negotiations. which
came late last week when LIoyd
George refused to accede to Sinu
Fein's contention that her delegates
could confer only as the ENJOYS of .
sovereign state, has greatly worried
DE Valera and that he is desperate.
~ anxious to heal the breach. Near.
time, he is casting about for a form
ula which will comply with Lloyd
Georges condition, while avoiding q
the appearance Of climbing down.
Premier Makes Issue Plain
Lloyd Georges letter to- day held ths
irlsn leader down to the chief ISSUE
OF the controversy with the statement
Il am prepared TO meet your dele-
gates IN the capacity OF the chosen
spoAesmen of your people to discuss
the association of Ireland with thu
british Commonwealth. My coIlesruea
and | cannot meet them as the repre-
sentatlves of sovereign and ;uoe-
pendent state without disloysltv on
our part to the throne and empire.
must therefore repeat that unless the
second paragraph of your letter of Sep
-tember IL (in which the Sim FEW
leader ressserted his claim to negotiats
on this basis) is withdrawn, confer
ence between us is impossible"
Apparently this is the Premier's lass
word.
II 10 ItCoSui66Q OH DQLn S11eS or EH0
Irish Channel that the barrier now ia
one of phrasing rather than fact, and
that if the negotiators once could be-
brought into conference the most oh
stinate difficulties would not be found
impossible Of solution. But the OBJ
stacle is in finding formula on which
the conference may be held without
necessitating formal retreat by Sim
Fein.
Lloyd George Advises Patience
Lloyd George is credited with the
idea that it would be wise to let tho
situation take care of itself for a
week or two, SO that the character Of
the deadlock would be realized in Irc-
land and the forces making for peacs
would have opportunity to develop; but;
there is an element of danger in this
attitude.
While nothing but the rattle of guns
will shake Ireland's conviction that
peace is coming, The Trihune's corre-
spondent in Dublin reports that there
is fear that continuation of the war
of words may lead to drifting back
of the situation toward a state oc
hostilities. There already have BEEN
some disquieting incidents in Ireland,
and it is not safe to leave two armies
confronting each other, not knowing
when the order to FIRE will be given.
This is the view generally held in
Dublin, where public opinion is anxious
to see the peace conference get down
to business