The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-09-21
4 I1|0ID GEORGE
JEALOUS
FOR PEACE
ittisn Premier Work
to Obtain Peace
able Ad justment of
lish Affairs

Lsondon, Sept. Is 6By the Asso-
se1ated Press The arrangements
for the proposed Irish peace con-
ference are cancelled, but the ne
gotiafions still are not ruptureo.
That ia brief is the story CT today's
atHaxpected and surprising develop
mAsats
amonn De Valera, the Irish re-
5ub1ican leader, having reafirmed
his sxc1aim so enter the conference
asssthe representative of an inde-
penaent sovereign state. Premier
Lloyd George declares that such
Admission is impossible. He an
lounces the cancellation of the ar
srangements. for conference and
t1Ie necessity of his consulting his
colleagues on the subject.
The premier is careful not to
close the door to possible resump-
lion of the negotiations. On the
contrary, he gives Mr.. De Valera
and his supporters the amplest
gtaJde and opportunity to reconsider
Shsir position.
oec1aring that there was but
one answer to. claim which would
6e equivalent to Great Britain's
:acknowledging Ireland's right to
speculate a treaty Of closer asso-
cation zith .'sorne other foreign
power, he mildly reproaehes the
IRISH people for taking no single
s{sp TO meet the generous ad-
xances Of the British government.
The whole tone oe the letter, in
ssEet, reveals that the premier still
retains hope of some more favor
assle development.
1.-The text of Mr.. Lloyd Georges
reply, which was telegraphed to-
night, says:
informed your emissaries who
came to me here Tuesday that
alteration of your claim to nego-
tis1e with his majesty's govern
xaent-as the representative of an
in1ependent and sovereign state
would make a conference between
Us impossible.
They brought me letter from
sou ii which you specifically reaf-
firm that claim, stating that your
na&ion has formally declared its in
Uependence and dsrecognizes itself as
sasovereign state. and it is only, you
added, sas Representatives Of that
state and as its CHOSEN guardians
that NE have any authority or pow
sers to aci on t.ehalf of our people
asked them to warn you Of the
Veryserious effect of such para
graph and offered to regard the let
ter as not delivered to me in order
that you might have time to recon
sier Despite this intination
yfsI have now published the letter
'ssfi It's original form. I must accord
ingY cancel. the arrangements for
f&e conference next week at Inyer-
4Sess and must consult my col
1Sagues on the course of action this
new situation necessitates. I will
eonmunirate to you as soon as pos
sib1e, but as lam for the moment
Said up here few days, delay is in
eyitabie. Meanwhile / must make
Sabsolntely clear that his n2ajesty's
gnyernment can not reconsider its
position which have stated to
You
we accepted a conference
Nth your delegates On the formal
aafement OF the claim which you
RaHe-reaMrmed it would constitute
official recognition by his maj
eStys government of the severance
of Ireland from the empire and of
sits. existence as an Independent re-
public.
i Fssst..IIt would moreover entitle you
sto declare as of right acknowledged
I by as, that in preference to asso-
eiation with the Rritsih empire you
,Mculd pursue closer. association by
ssastreaty with. some other foreign
ppwer There is only one answer
pOssible to such claim as that.
SThe great concessions which his
.majesty''s government made to The
feeling of your people in order to
secure q. lasting settlement deserv-
ss5 in my opinion, some more. gen
.eEous response, but so far every
advance has been made, by us.
fon your part you have not
soome to meet us by a single step,
shtt have merely reiterated in
phrases of emphatic challenge the
Iaster and spirit of your original
claim.
-sstssI am yours faithfully,
Lloyd George
-rDxy