Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-09
De Valera to London
Continued from Page Ore

. haps something more than mere ..
auence, for, lacking his active aid !.
is hardly conceivable that even,
could have progressed so uuick,,,
they did today, and the fact thai ~
prime minister has not stood un".
the dignity of his Office, but seer;r-
~ is willing to discuss with Mr. :,
Valera the basis for a general o.,
ference is considered hopeful -
/ The PRINCIPAL events of this -,
portant day, however. occurred no, J.,
London. but in Dublin. and the r,,.
striking was the sensational anne
ance of General Sir Nevil Macro,a,
the military commander in Ireland =.
the conference Of Eamonn de Va,s,a
/ and leading southern Unionists, att.
his aide de camp had been sent i,
advance, presumably to ascerta,n
! whether his participation would h.
agreeable.
| General Macready's appearance ara
| long stay at the conference clearly b,t
to do with Mr.. Lloyd Georges le,ts.
to Earl Middleton, one of the confer.
ees, in which the prime minister do.
clared that il would be impossible =,
conduct negotiations with any hon.
of achieving satisfactory results /.
violence in Ireland continued and al.
so that the British government wouls
give instructions to the troops ana
police to suspend active operation tia
moment Mr.. De Valera declared his,
intention to enter into a conference
with the British government and IN,
order the cessation of all acts of vio.
lence by those under his control.
General Macready's presence ar the
| conference has additional significance
because it has been stated that the
"militarist party in Ireland has been
strongly opposing peace negotiations
and any idea Of truce
No report of the proceedings Of Mr.,
De Nalera's conference with tn,
southern Unionists has yet been is.
cipal topic discussed as a truce ard
that Eamonn Duggan. a Sim Fem
member of parliament who was re-
leased from Mountjoy prison only =
few days ago, acted as intermediary
between the conference and the Sim
Fein leaders.
Opinion still inclines to the ide.
that General SHUTS. owing to the i'm.
portant part he has taken in the pre-.
liminary negotiations, will be the first
chairman of the London conference
even, if MIR. Lloyd George presides
during the later stages, as would be
almost inevitable if constitutional
questions were under discussion.
Another matter that has been wide
ly discussed today. arising out of the
visit of the secretary for war. Sir
Laming Worthington- Evans to the
king yesterday was the possibility
that the military evacuation Of Ire
land is under consideration This Il
is recalled, has been advocated BY
many prominent statesmen, including
Niscount Grey, former secretary for
foreign affairs.
In view of General Nacreadv's at
tendance at the Dublin conference il
is believed not Impossible that such
development is actually under ad-
visement.
King George. accompanied b.
Queen Mary. attended the opening Of
the Ulster parliament on June -. the
king. in an urgent plea for peace IN
Ireland, and Cancellation between the
people Of that country and the en-.
pire urged the Irish TO forgive and
forget.
Il appeal to all Irishmen." said the
king. ito pause. TO stretch out thu
hand of forhearance and Concihater,
To forgive and TO forget, and TO ioin
in making for the land which thev
love new era of peace, contentment
and good will"
This was the first irnpelling force
ii was followed a few DAYS later Nv
an invitation from the British prime
minister r. E;amonn de Valera the
Irish republican leader, and SIR James
Craig. tn" Ulster premier to attend
conference at London to discuss a set
tlement
The British government Mr.. Lleyd-
George declared. was deeply anxious
that the king appeal for recnncilja-
tion in Ireland should not have been
made in vain
This invitation was accepted by STR
James Craig. but the premlers pro
posal was declared by Mr.. ne Valera
T., he Impossible of acceptance in the
form in which ii had been received. In
his reply to the prime minister or
June IS Mr. De Valera said. We
most earnestly desire TO help in bring
ing about a lasting peace between the
peoples Of these two islands. but see
no avenue by which it can be reached
# YOU DENY ireland essential unity.
The republican leader added that he
vas consulting with representatives OF
the Irish people and would later give
definite answer TO the invitation.
General SHUTS about this time
jumped into the breach and on a.
ing visit TO DIbIin conferred leigth-
lily with Mr.. he Valera and his as
sistants The nature of the discus
sions has not been disclosed as to do
tails, but in public statement a dav
ar So ago General SHUTS was moved
to say that the Irish question vas d
soluble problem IF we all help ~
create better atmosphere and are
determined to wipe cut what IS reall%
stain on the empires record" he
declared. we shall succeed"
EnDE CEAIrry n1n