The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-14
BY MILTON eRoNNER.

-
LONDON, July IA. - II confer.
ences now progressing bring peace
In Ireland. the result will be due
to this most varying set OF lnflu.
ences in the history Of great world
events:
FIRST: The grim resolve of the
bulk Of lrishmen to follow De Val.
era's lead.
SECOND: King Georges deter.
mInation to pacIfy Ireland II posi-.
BILE.
THIRD: The growing dlsmay of
the British taxpayers at the enor-
nous sums spent in represslng
ireland without coming any nearer
to a settlement.
FOURTH: The growing dlscon-
tent in the British army at the
work.
FIFTH: 1.-The publicity Campaign
OF the Eorthcli NJ press nFging tho
sliFs .brRpsh u est9iii q bS Ifss
SIXTH: The pressure exerted
By, the premisrs Of British inde.
pendent dominions who saw peace
possible in Ireland only II the
Irish were given independence
within the empire similar TO Can
ada and Australia.
SEVENTH: The influences OF
America, reinforced by every prom.
inent American whom Lloyd George
has met in the past few months,
including George Harvey, Thomas
Lamont aud Bernard Baruch. All
are supposed to have told him that
there was a slim chance Of Anglo.
American approachment while Ire.
land was oppressed.
Many here who are we'll inform
ed. however, look upon King George
as the real hero In the situation.
The cabinet has been divided Oh
the Irish question for long time,
Churchill and the Lord Chancellor
being counted among those WHIT.
wish conciliatory methods. while
the Premier is supposed to nave
sided with the majority that be-
lieved In more military force.
The king really forced action on
the Irish question by his Inslstency
In the famous speech he delivered
in Belfast June %, when he open.
ed the Ulster Parliament.
His plea to lrishmen to forgive
and forget and 10 Join In making
Ireland a land Of peace, content.
ment and good will profoundly
stirred England.
The Premier, quick to sense what
the public was thinking, jumped In
on June % with message to De
Valera. "the chosen leader OF tho
great majority in southern Ire
lLnd," asking him to come to Lon.
don TO: conference with himself
and Sir James Craig, the first u.
ster premier.
On June IS De Valera accepted.
but insisted that all Irish leaders
first ought to meet in Dublin to set
tie the Irish differences on Irish
soil.
Craig declined, but the invitation
was accepted BY southern Ireland,
headed by, Lord Middleton, great
Tory politician, who is supposed IL
have been influenced by HIS sister.
For years she has worked to allie.
viate the distress OF the peasantry
and sympathiEed with their aspira.
tions.
The government showed It's good
Intentions by beginning TO release
Sim Fein leaders from prison,
among them Arthur Griffiths, vico
president OF Dali Elreann, the Sim
Fein parliament.
American Independence Day may
be forever a memorable date IN
Irish history because, while thou.
sands Of Irishmen waved the
American flag In Dublin. De Valera
and Griffiths met Southern Union.
lists on that day at the Mansion
House there.
Among other things proposed
was a truce between the fighting
forces. This finally was agreed
upon July and was made effec
tive July II. General McReady,
commanding the crown military
forces, signed for the government,
while the signer for Sim Fein war
Michael Collins, the picturesque,
daredevil commander OF the Irish
Republican army, for whom crown
forces had been vainly searching
for. more than two years.
"A romantic touch was added to
the proceedings by the fact that
General SHUTS, Boer premier Of
South Africa. who once fanEht