New-York tribune., 1921-11-18
Unionists Back
Premier's Irish
Policy, 20 to l
Party Meeting After Fierce
Attacks by the ssDie-
Hards'' Gives Vote of Con
fidence to Lloyd George
UlsterW aves Olive Branch
Note TO the Government Ex-
presses Willingness to
Resume Informal Farley
From The Ttsbanc's Earopear Burcou

Copyright, 1921. New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, Nov. 17.-By vote of ap-
proSimately 1000 to 100 the Unionist
party, in session at Liverpool this
afternoon, indorscd the governments
policy in its efforts to bring about
peace in Ireland, after an acrimonious
debate. The vote smashed the second
attempt of the Tory extremists to dis
rupt the Irish negotiations, and their
defeat was even more complete than it
was in Parliament recently.
While this was taking place the re-
ply of the Ulster Cabinet to the latest
communication of the government was
delivered in Downing Street and for
warded to Premier Lloyd George, who
is enjoying holiday at Bournem outh.
The reply was. understood to reatfirm
strongly listers stand against acced-
ing to the governments proposal, but
it contained also the hint that informal
conversations might be held. 1t was
accompanied by strong representations
that the correspondence between Ulster
and the British government should be
published, to which the government is
not likely to agree. Nevertheless, the
tone of to-day's events, taken as q
whole, was favorable.
Session Is Dramatic
The action of the Unionists support
ing Lloyd Georges efforts toward Irish
peace came as climax of the dra-
matte session in Liverpool to-day. The
"die-hards" entered the meeting with
high hopes of success, but before vote
was taken it was evident that they had
come to think discretion the better
part of valor.
Early in the session the Earl of
Derby was elected president of the
National Unionist Association, and in
a speech acknowledging his election he
said he did not disguise the fact that
it would require all possible tact and
intelligence to hold the party together.
The Irish situation came vividly be-
fore the convention when Lord Farm
ham declared that the Unionists were
living under reign of terror, and Gen
eral Prescott Decies made a fiery
speech, asserting that if the British
government did not intervene the
Ulster forces could suppress the Sim
Fein in nine months.
Colonel Gretton, who was the author
of the motion of censure in the House
of Commons which was voted down two
weeks ago, then proposed resolution
which amounted to vote of lack of
confidence in Lloyd George.
cit would be crime to hand Ireland
over to murder gang with power to
raise an army which would curse Ire
land and menace England, and prob
ably entail conscription here" de-
clared the Colonel, warning the Union
lists that the failure of his resolution
would lead eventually to the destruc-
tion OF the Unionist party.
Calls Feiners Assassins
In violent speech supporting the
resolution, which was frequently in
terrppted, Colonel Archer Shee de-
scribed the Sim Feiners as miserable
assassins whose proper place was in
Jail or on the scaffold."
Lord Middleton, however, who assert
ed that he had supported the Unionist
cause longer than most Of those pres
ent, arose and criticized the govern
(centInued On sass sx)