Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-09-16
HOPE RETAINED
IRELAND WILL
MODIFY REPLY
No Move Is Expected
From Either Side for
a Short Time.
Lloyd Georges Letter
Mild Reproach to Irish
for Refusing Offer.

London, Sept. 15.-A arrangements
for the proposed Irish peace confer.
ence are cancelled, but the negotia-
tions are not ruptured. That in trie1
is the story Of Thursdays unexpected
and surprising Developments.
Eamonn de Valera, Irish republican
leader, having reaffirmed his CAIN to
enter the conference as the repre-
sentative of an Independent sovereign
state, Premier Lloyd George declares
such admission impossible. He an
nounces the cancellation of the ar
rangements for a conference and the
necessity Of his consulting his col
leagues on the subject.
Door Still Open.
The premier is careful not to close
the door to possible resumption of
the negotiations giving Mr.. de Valera
and his supporters ample time and op-
portunity to reconsider their position
he described himself as 'laid up" at
Gairloch, necessitating a few days de-
lay.
Declaring that there was but one
answer to a claim which would be
equivalent to Great Britain's acknowl-
edging Ireland right to negotiate a
treaty 'ofrfosefs sss6ciation with "some
other foreign power" he mildly re-
proaches the Irish people for not
taking single step to meet the gen
erous advances of the British govern
ment.
The whole tone of the letter, in
fact, reveals that the premier still
retains hope of some more favorable
development. incidentally, the pre-
mier's letter clears up the mystifying
events of the last few days. showing
that Mr.. De Valera's reply was taken
by McGrath and Boland to Gairloch,
but that the premier tried unsuccess-
fully to persuade notifications of it's
tenor and offered to regard it as not
having been delivered.
The fact that Mr.. DcValera's col
leagues failed to take advantage Of this
factor is considered serious aspect
to the situation.
The prospect is that there will be
no move now from either side for a
few days. It is noteworthy that in
the final exchanges the traditional dip
lomatic method of sending notes by
courier were dropped in favor Of the
more expeditions telegraph lines.
Premier's Reply.
The text of Mr.. Lloyd Georges reply
which was telegraphed says:
II informed your emissaries who
came to me here Tuesday that reit-
eraton of your claim to negotiate with
His Majesty's government as the rep
of an independent and
sovereign state would make a con-
ference between us impossible"
"They brought me letter from you
In which you specifically reaffirm that
claim, stating that your nation had
declared it's independence and
recognizes itself as a sovereign state
and It is only, you added, as represen-
tatiye Of that state and as it's chosen
guardians that we have any authority
Or power to act on behalf of our peo-
ple.'"
II asked them to warn you Of the
very serious effect Of such a paragraph
and offered to regard the letter as not
delivered to me in order that you
might have time to reconsider 1t.
Despite this illumination you have now
published the letter in its original |
form. / must accordingly cancel the |
for the conference next |
week at Inverness, and must consult |
nv colleagues on the course Of action |
his situation necessitates. win
this to you as soon as |
,ossible, but as / am for the moment |
aid up here a delay is inevitable. |
/ must make absolutely !
lear that bis Majesty's government |
,annot reconsider its position, which
have stated TO you"
Decision Final.
Mr.. Lloyd George told the Slim Fein
eaders that he would communicate the
'esult Of such consultation as soon as
but that he must make It
absolutely clear the British govern
nent could not reconsider it's position
Is stated by him.
IF we accepted conference with
vour delegates on the formal state
nent of the claim which you have
'saffirmed 1t would constitute an Of
icial recognition by his majesty's gov
|rnment of the severance Of Ireland
rom the empire and OF it's existence
|s an independent republic.
'"The great concession which his
najesty's government made to the feel
ng of your people in order to secure
lasting settlement deserved, in my
pinion. some moro generous response
ut 80 far every advance has been
made by us.
ION your pert, you have not-come
o meet us by single step, but have
lerely reiterated phrases of emphatic ,
hallenge, the letter and spirit Of your ,
rtginal claim.
II am, yours faithfully, ,