The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-16
BRITISH PREMIER
SENDS ANSWER TO
! SINN FEM LEADER
Willlgot Treat With Representa-.
ti1es A. Prom an fndepen-
dent Sovereign State.
Still ha Solution Sat-
All May BE
nlAed Upon.

(Ay Tire Associated Preae
LONDON, Sept. 15-The arrange
ments for the proposed irish peace
conference are cancelled but the NE
getiations still are not rupsured. That
II brief is the story Of todays IN
expected and surprising developments
Eamonn DeVaiera, the Irish repnb-
lican leader, having reaffirfned his
claim 70 enter the conferences as the
representative OF an independent SOW
efeien state. Premier 0gd George
declares that such ad ION Is inn
possible. He ANNOUNCED cancella-
ilon Of the arrangemer f9r con-
ference and the necessit his con-
suiting his colleagues on ht subject.
The premier ia careful TO close
the door TO possible tions ,sof
the negotiations. On afy he
gives Mr.. DeValera and exporters
the amplest time a spnity to
reconsider their poe
Declaring that but one
answer to clhln witch would be
equivalent to Grha BFitain's acknowls
odging Ireland flight to negotiate a
treaty OF association with
some Other power he mild
~ reproaches ha Irish people Tor taxi
ing no single ste7 ~ eagerer-
nent.
The whole tone Of the letter. in
fact, reveals that the premier still
retains hope Of some more favorable
development.
The text Of Mr.. Lloyd-G Georges re-
ply, which was telegraphed tonight,
says:
Il informed your emissaries who
came to me here Tuesday that reit-
GRAFTON Of your claim to negotiate
with His Ma3esty's government as the
representative OF an Independent and
sovereign state would make a confer
ence between us impossible.
'sThey brought me letter from you
III which YOU speciahcally reaffrm
that claim, stating that your nation
has formally declared its Independ-
ence and recognizes itself as a SOW
ereign state and it is only you added,
.as representatives OF that state and
as Its chosen guardians that we have
any authority or powers to act on
behalf Of our people.
II asked them to warn you Of the
very serious effect OF such o para
graph and offered to regard the letter
IS not delivered to me in order that
you might have time to reconsider It.
Despite this intimation, you have now
published the letter in its original
form. must accordingly. cancel the
arrangements for the conference next
week at Inverness and must consult
my colleagues on the course Of action
this new situation necessitates. / will
communicate this to you as soon as
possible, but as 4 am for the moment
laid up here a few days delay is in
evitable Meanwhile. / must make it
absolutely clear that His Majesty's
government cannot reconsider its posi-
tlon which I have stated to you.
sTf we accepted conference with
your delegates on the formal state
ment Of the claim which you have
reafnrmed. II would constitute an Of
fcia1 recognition by His Majesty's
government OF the severence OF Ire
land from the empire and of its ex-
istence as an independent republic
1T would moreover, entitle you tol
declare as Of right Acknowledged by
us that IN preference to association
with the British empire you would
pursue closer association by treaty
with some other foreign power. There
Is only one answer possible to such al
claim as that
The great concessions which His
Majesty's government made to the
feeling OF your people IN order to Sc
cure a lasting settlement deserved, in
my opinion, some more generous re-
sponse, but so far every advance has
been made by us.
"on your part you have not come
TO meet us BY q single step. but have
merely reiterated in phrases OF en-
phatic challenge the letter and spirit
Of your original claim.
Il am, yours faithfully,
"ILOYD-GEORGE."