The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-10-01
DE VALERA ACCEPTS
|. CONFERENCE OFFER,
SENDS Mild REPLY
Tells Lloyd George Ireland
Will Have Delegates in
London, Oct. II.
BRITAIN FEELS RELIEF
Hope Is Seen in the COncil-
iatory Attitude of the
Irish Leader.
TRUCE PACT INSECURE
Agreement and Farley Comes
at Right Time-Griffith
TRUCE PACT INSECURE
Agreement and Farley Comes
at Right Time-Griffith
One Of Sim Fein EnvOys.

Copyright, 1921. by THE NEw York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
London. Sept. 20.
Eamon de Valera, Irish Republican
leader, to-day accepted the invitation
of the British Prime Minister. Mr.
Lloyd George, to send representatives
to a conference in London on October
IL. In letter which carefully echoes
Mr.. Lloyd Georges conciliatory tone OF
yesterday. Mr.. de Valera says he will
so to London and explore every pos
sibility of settlement by a personal
discussion"
There is one sentence in Mr.. de
Valera's letter which savors Of danger
He says: Our respective positions
have been stated and are understood y
That is long way from compliance
with Mr.. Lloyd Georges demand that
Sim Fein must. withdraw the offensive
second paragraph in Mr.. de valeras
letter of September IL. which reas
serted that the Irish delegates repre-
sented an independent and sovereign
Power. Also at first glance it seems to
differ widely from Mr.. Lloyd Georges
statement yesterday, that the confer
ence could not be held on the basis OF
the correspondence between the two
leaders up to that time.
Start with Clean Slate.
Persons closest to the negotiations
say, however, that the varying declara-
tions made by toth sides ~ wc~icrs
times neutralize sch other and that
actually the conf rsse ssil begin Win
clean slate. Irithe tr Lioy0
Georges flag of ra Sspfayen1 rct
Mr.. de valera's stln9gfn of n..0apend-
ence" has been nauieu uown, pu,
neither is flying defiantly in the face
of the other, and talk is possible.
There is some disposition in certain
quarters here to believe that Sin Fein
will raise the issue of independence the
first opportunity after the conference
meets. but persons closest to the ne
gotiations again insist that such a
course would be at absolute variance
with every Irish, as we'll as English.
view of the proceedings. There was a
general feeling of relief tonight in
Government circles that the obstacles
which seemingly had threatened to pre-
vent another conference apparently had
been removed by De valera's message,
which raised no question as TO the
status of Sim Fein delegates, and no
ha
Premier and the Irish leader Is ex-
pected.
Text of De valera's Reply.
Mr.. De valeras reply reads:
I'VE received your letter of invita-
tion to a conference in London. Oc-
tober IL. with a view to ascertainng
INV the association of Ireland with
the community of nations knwn as
the British Empire may best be
reconciled with Irish national as
pirations."
"Our respective positions have been
stated and understood. and we agree
that conference. not correspondence.
is the most practical and hopeful
way an understanding.
I'VE accept the invitation. Our DEL
the date mentioned and explore every
possibility of a settlement by persnal
discussion"
II Is recalled that when Mr.. Lloyd
Georges first offer to the first assembly
OF the Dali Eireann was made public
the thing that made Dublin more angry
with it tina anything else was its publ
cation at the same time with Gen. Jan
SHUTS letter contending that the offer
constituted dominion home rule. ince
then every authoritative Irish utterance
has stressed everything but indepen-
dence until Mr.. de valera's reference
to it In his letter Of September ~.
That Is rcge rded now as almost a
fortunate blunder. 1t has cleared the
issue Of independence from the way.
Sim Fein have made their stand, and
now they can explore what substitute
Great Britain can offer that will enable
Irish leaders TO ask the Irish people TO
modify their mandate. Thus they would
come into the Empire according TO
their. own concepts. instead OF "stay
within according to those of Mr. Lloyd
George.
Conference Comes in Time.
According to reports received here
from both Dublin and Belfast, the con-
ference Is assured just In time. The
truce arrangements lasted better than
the most sanguine persons hoped they
would. but now both sides are beginning
to pie up alleged violations OF IL. and
there are several areas wherein feeling
is again becoming tense. Dublin is re-
newing its intrss In hit situation In Bite
ncwing it's interest IN the situation In
Belfsst and is describing the disturb
ances which occurred there recently as
pogroms against Catholic workmen.
Thc Freemdws Journal to-day leads In
the irish demand for the release of
Irishmen who are interned or held as
prisoners. asserting that the holding of
OF men and women without
any charges having been made against
them or on purely political charges. is
creating bad blood throughout the
country.
Bv the Associated Press
LONDON Sept. s0.---The formula of
the association of Ireland with other
Continued on Strth Page.