Evening star., 1921-10-24
LLOYD GEORGE RAPS
De VALERA NOTE AS
GRAVE CHALLENGE
Denounces Message to Pope
and Says Government Will
Not Recede From Stand.
NEGOTIATIONS RESUMED
AMID GREAT ANXIETY
Sinn Feiners Pessim1stic After Col.
Inns Returns From Dublin
Conference.
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
LONDON, October 24-Prime Min
lister Lloyd George, answering a
question in the house of commons to-
day regarding cannon de Valera's
message to Pope Benedict. said the
publication of Mr.. de Nalera's mes
sage. especially in the middle of the
peace negotiations. constituted a
grave challenge.
THE position of the government on
the question involved in that tele-
gram has been made abundantly
clear" the premier continued. I'VE do
not propose to recede from it, and the
conference cannot proceed on any
other basis"
"FOllles. Mystify Premier.
Sir Thomas Bennett asked whether
the Sim Fein colors were not dis
played over the door of the house oc-
cupied by the Sim Fein delegation
and whether this was not a great
provocation to the people in that dis
trict. Mr.. Lloyd George replied that
he had been assured the colors We're
not displayed, but if they were he
quite agreed with Sir Thomas OBJ
servation. Mr.. Lloyd George then
added:
II cannot imagine why all these fol-
lies are being perpetrated at time
when there is a real desire to nego-
tiate for peace. 1t seems as If some
people are doing their very best to
make this impossible"
Grave Anxiety Felt.
Grave anxiety over the possibility
of negotiations between the British
government and Sim Fein Ireland
continuing to successful conclusion
was felt here today. The conference
between members of the British cab
met and representatives of the dali
eireann was resumed. but there was
evident a feeling that the situation
was such as to give ground for con-
justment of the Irish controversy.
Michael Collins, minister Of finance
in the dali eireann government, who
went to Dublin on Saturday. returned
here last night. 1t was understood
that Prime Minister Lloyd George had
laid before the Irish delegates certain
questions affecting Irish allegiance to
the British crown, and there was
belief that Mr.. Collins had gone to
Dublin to talk the situation over with
brought communication from Ea-
| NOM De Valera, and it was felt that
upon this answer and the attitude
taken by the dali eireann delegates
WOuiu uepenu the continuance OF the
negotiations.
Everywhere, except in irreconcilable
quarters. hope that the conference
would continue was expressed this
| morning, and it was argued that,
with good will on each side, a way
out of the difficulty created by Mr.. De
Valera's message to Pope Benedict
could be found. At the same time it
was contended that if the Sinn Fein
representatives indorsed their lead
er's words, it was hardly possible to
see how a rupture of the conference
was avoidable.
Much General Election Talk.
The possibility of the government
appealing to the nation through a
general election, should the confer
ence fail, assumed considerable prom
inence over the week end, and many
newspapers referred to it today, but
there was not much concrete express
sion of opinion, The Daily Mail re-
ferred to the suggestion as Childish
nonsense" and there was no doubt
that such plan would not be desired
in business quarters, it being fore
seen that the present hope for re-
vival of trade would be shattered by
the excitement and turmoil Incidental
to an appeal to the electorate.
The London Times today earnestly
reiterated its desire for an Irish set
tlement. 1t urged that, even If an
agreement in the conference itself
was impossible, complete rupture
need not follow. In such an event
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