New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-10
ALI Evidence of Warfare
Vanishes i'm Amazing
Drift of Sentiment
Toward Understanding
Celts FraterniZe
With Ancient Foes
Optimists Now Pre- dict
Complete Solution of
Problem i'm Two Weeks
From The Tribune's European Bureau

Copyright, 1921, New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, July 9.-An amazing drift
toward peace in Ireland has resulted
from the announcement that Eamon de
Valera, president of the Irish Repub-
llc,' will meet Premier Lloyd George
and Sir James Craig, the Ulster Pre-
mier, probably next week, in an effort
to settle the whole Irish problem.
There are plenty of optimists in Eng
land to-day who foresee a peaceful
settlement of the age-long Irish strife
within the next fortnight.
Evidences of war have vanished from
Dublin and all Ireland almost overnight.
Where two days ago the members of
the crown forces and of the Irish vol
unteers walked the streets only at the
peril of their lives, to-day there are
comparatively few signs in Dublin of
the terrible enmity which has so long
marked the relations between rebels
and supporters of the King.
Although the formal truce does not
become operative until Monday noon,
both sides apparently have decided by
common consent to cease hostilities i'm
mediately. No people except the Irish
could swing from one extreme to the
other overnight as the citizens of Dub
lin have done in the last twenty-four
hours. Now they are fraternizing with
the same persons they were cursing
yesterday.
King Continues Activity
King George is no less active than
General Jan Christian SHUTS in push
ing the peace negotiations. He con-
ferred this morning with Earl Midle-
ton, who had just returned from Dub
lin. The Southern Unionist leader told
the King he believed the atmosphere
was favorable for the critical negotia
tions just ahead The majority on
both sides, he said, favor peace, but
great difficulties must be overcome be-
fore a settlement can be reached.
Earl Middleton holds that the truce
which has been arranged is long step
forward. and he believes that both
sides will hesitate before renewing the
warfare, even though political settle
ment is found exceedingly hard to
reach.
The fact that both General Sir Nevil
Macready, British military commander
in Ireland, and representative of the
Irish republican army signed their
names to the proposal for truce is
pointed to as precluding the possibility
CT action by any extremists on either
side which might leopard the politi-
cal negotiations.
The peace negotiations which Pre-
mier Lloyd George will carry on with
Sir James Craig and De Valera must
work out formula that will preclude
the weakening of England's strategic
defense, assure Ulster of her rights
oil Of I,o1o 1oh6 h11
form Of government. De Valera says
that all these problems can be solved
satisfactorily. Earl Middleton agrees
with him in this. 1t remains for Sir
James Craig and Lloyd George to say
the next word, to add their agreement
to this possibility. To-day it is almost
being shouted from the housetops that
the British and Ulster premiers are
really moderate men, desirous of peace
even at the expense of some sacrifice.
Progress Astounds Public
Because of the speed with which
General Smuts has pushed the peace
negotiations the public can hardly be-
leve that settlement of the Irish
question is just around the corner.
Consequently there is a tendency in
some quarters to put soft pedal on
the progress being made and to en-
phasize the differences outstanding be-
tween north and south Ireland. They
point out that Ulster is not nearly so
satisfied with it's present position as
might be expected. The people there
have their own premier and parlia-
ment and are at peace with the Kings
government. But as Ulster cannot af-
ford to be cut off from intercourse
with the south, Sir James Craig is ex-
pected to prove more tolerant and con-
ciliatory than Sir Edward Carson ever
would have been.
The instructions issued by De Valera
and Macready to their supporters are
SO comprehensive that all Ireland will
be practically normal by Monday noon.
Sim Fein fugitives, who have been on
the run for months, will be free to
move about unmolested.