The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-09-09
PROBLEM
MAY Be SOLVED
At CONFERENCE
LLOYD GEORGE LETTER
NOT AN ULTIMATUM
Question of Ulster One of the
Hardest Nuts For the Con-
ference to Negotiate

y
George, let,er g EAmon ue Valera, ;he
Irish republican leader. which was for
ward-d I" tsIh,:n after the meeting OF
the British cabinet az inverness yester-
day. seems a; east 20 insure ma, Sim
Fen pien!poisnt'aEies WI NEE, the
special committee n cAbt7e; ministers
at Inverness 20 Sep;C Cmoer -. for tho
purpose O: clearing up any amb, suity
me Sim F'eiH leaders may entertain
about the SIX conditions the British gov
ernm"nt stipulated as reservations in
granting ireland a dominion status
The premiers ,etter. like all his COM
munications since the Irish negotiations
began is characterized by pnctilious
consideration for the Sim Foin. While
IL suggests date for the proposed son
ference. !; IS ~ -uo sense an ditimatunI.
and sets no time limit TO the neSoua-
lions. In fact. X tends 10 prove what
ra< been maintained Throughout; by
those close 10 the premier that he earn
estly desires 4 settlement.
We have Invited you 10 discuss our
proposals on their merits" says the pre-
uIor and he adds that /; vii. be open
to the Irish leaders 20 raise tho subject
Of guarantees on any particular point.
De vAsrA VIII Aecspe
The bener Is almost unlNeTSlI tS'iRnI
;aat ~ De Valera w!u accept. that
what the premier Offers is what Mr.. UN
Valera desires namely. an uuirammeied
conference. with the single condition
thu, Ireland remain IN the British en-
pire The guarantees which Mr.. De
Valera IS supposed 20 have IN mind are
memberships in the League OF Nations
and the dominion conferences. and these
[, e.. haliayed tha would DO
willing 10 grant.
Assuming that the conference viii
meet as suggested. there Is sill! the
question Of Ulster. which IS not touched
in the premiers letter. and on which
Mr.. he Valera holds strong views. The
question Of the desire OF Fermanayh
and Tyrone 20 he separated from tho
northern parliament, also Is likely 10 be
rAised in the conference. and this would
bring = bitter conflct with Ulster Il
will thus be seen that here arc yet
many difficulties ahead.
The Lloyd George Letter
London. Sept. 3.--The text Of Premier
Lloyd Georges letter. which was dis
patched to Dublin from Inverness. Scot
land. yesterda, in answer 20 the latest
no, from EAmon De Valera. the Irish
leader. follows:
His Majesty's government have con-
sidered your letter % August 80. and
have to make IN. following observations
upon K:
Tho principle OF government by con-
sent Of the governed IL the foundation
Of the British constitutional develop
mont. but We canno: accept as basis
Of \ practical conference An interpeta-
ton or tha. principle which would COM
10 Nd mi igh
sent, even 20 the extent OF setting up 4
republic and repudiasins the crown
You mus, be aware that = conference
on such q basis Is Impossible so ap-
piled tho principle OF government by
consent OF the governed would under
mine the fabric ~ every democratic
al and drive tho civilized world into
bar rbarism.
on the other hand. wa have invited
you TO proposals on their motives. IN
order that YOU may have no doub: as TO
SCOPE and sincerity OF our intentions.
II would be open 10 you in such =
conference TO ralse the subject OF guar
antees on any pointS which would con-
slider Irish freedom prejudiced by
these proposals. His ma)esiys govern
rnent are loath 70 believe that you will
insist upon rejection OF their proposals
Hut exam ninS tnem IN COM or
sncs.
% decline 70 desire settlement which
would heStow upon the Irish people the
fullest freedom for national development
within tho empire can only mean that
you repudiato all allegiance 10 the
crown and all membership In tha Brit
ish com rnouwealth
~ we are to draw this inference from
your letter tho further discussions BE-
tween Us could serve no useful purposs,
and all conferences would be IN vain.
r. however. We are mistaken In nis
Inference. as We still hope. and II your
real objection TO our proposals Is that
,hey OFFER Ireland less than the liberty
We have described. that objection can bs
s1 plored a. a conference. y
You viii agree that this correspond
ence has lasted long enough. His maies-
~. government must therefore Ask for
a definite reply. aS 20 whether you are
prepared to enter a conference 20 asosr-
tain how tho association OF Ireland With
the community OF nations known as tho
British empire can best DO reconciIed
with tho Irish national aspirations.
~ as We hope. your answer - In
the Affirmative. suggest that the con-
.erenc. should meet at Inverness on
the goth Instant