Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-19
IRISH ANXIOUS
To OPEN ROAD
F0RC0NF FERENCE
DeValera Is Searching
for Formula to Accept
Offer of Brit Premier.
Republicans Feel 1t Is
Advisable to Drop Plan
Previously Advocated.

London, Sept. 1S.-(By The Asso
ciated Press. premier Lloyd Georg
Sunday added another to the brisl
fire Of kilograms between Dublin ant
Gairloch, which leaves Eamonn d,
Nalera's search for formula enablin,
him to accept the invitation to con
ference still unsatisfed, and the posi-
ton on the Irish question is virtually
the same as on Friday.
In his message to the Irish republi
can leader, the British prime minister
remains firm in refusing to meet the
Irish delegates as representing an in
dependent and sovereign state and de-
clares that unless that section of Mr.
DE Valera's recent letter insisting
upon the delegates acting as repre-
was withdrawn, q conference between
the members of the British cabinet and
the Sim Fein plenipotentiaries would
be impossible.
Seeks Favorable Terms.
Notwithstanding the firm tone of
Mr.. Lloyd Georges telegram, it is in
terpretcd as displaying solicitude to
furnish Mr.. De Valera favorable
opening for abandonment of his pres
cnt attitude.
Il have received your telegram of
Saturday night and observe it does not
modify the claim that your delegates
should meet us as representatives of
sovereign and independent state.
You made no such conditions in ad-
vance when you came to see me in
July. invited you then to meet me.
in the words of my letter. as the
chosen leader of the great majority in
southern Ireland, and you accepted the
invitation.
From the very outset of our con-
versations l told you that we looked
to Ireland to own allegiance to the
throne. and to make her future as
member of the British commonwealth.
That was the basis of our proposals,
and we cannot alter it.
Would Be DisIoyalty.
THE status you now claim in ad
vance for your delegates is in effect
q reputation of that basis. ! am pre-
you in July. in the capacity of the
chosen spokesmen for your people to
discuss the association of Ireland,
with the British commonwealth.
My colleagues and l cannot meet
them as representatives OF a SOW
ereign and Independent state without
disloyalty on our part to the throne
and the empire. ! must therefore re-
peat that unless the second paragraph
Of the letter of the twelfth is with
lrawn. a conference between us is i'm
possible"
The second paragraph of Mr.. De
Ealera's letter of September II. to
which Premier lloyd George alludes in |
his latest telegram. is as follows:
In this final note, we deem it our |!
duty to reaffirm that our position is. |
and can only be as we have defined it !
throughout this correspondence. Our /
nation has formally declared it's indie
Dendcnce, and recognizes itself as a
sovereign state. 1t is only as repre- /
sentatives of that state and as it's |
chosen guardians, that we have au
thority or power to act on behalf of
our people. As regards the principle
Of government by consent of the gov
crned. in the very nature of things, it
must be the basis of any agreement
that will achieve the purpose we have
at heartthat is, the final reconcilia-
ton of our nation with yours We i
have suggested no interruption of that
principle save its every day interpre-
tetiOn, the sense. for example, in
which it was understood by the plain
men and women Of the world. when
on January 5. 1915 you said:
The settlement of Europe must
De based on such grounds of reason
md justice as will give some promise !
Df stability. Therefore, it is that we
eel that government with the consent
If the governed must be the basis of !:
my territorial settlement in this
var.