The Washington herald., 1921-10-12
Premier Meets
Erin Delegates
With Big Smile
First Day of Peace Con
ference Passes With
out Break.

OUT Break.
Special Gable to The Washington Hsrsld.)
LONDON, Oct. 11.-Ireland and
Great Britain faced each other today
across a conference table in the
famous cabinet room at 10 Down
ing street and the most that can be
said is that the prospects for a per.
manent peace are brighter tonight
than they were this morning.
Two sessions were held today. one
of two hourse this morning and
one of an hur and a half this after
non. At the close of the afternoon
meeting the conference adjourned
until Thursday morning.
Ireland was represented by Ar
thur Griffith, Michael Collins, George
Gavan Duffy, Eamonn Duggan and
Robert Barton and Great Britain by
Prime Minister Lloyd George, Win
ston Churchill. Lord Birkenhead
Sir Hamar Greenwood and Sir
Worthington Evans. j. Austen
Chamberlain, who is a member Of
the British delegation, was absent
on account of Illness.
. Arrive o nthe Dot.
The Irish delegation arrived at
Downing street on the stroke OF
IL a. m. in two expensive cars.
contrasting with the British minis
listers, who drove up in taxis The
arrial of the delegation from Erin
W asgreeted with cheers by a crowd
of Irish at the entrance to the
street, although It was not so large
as when Eamonn de Valera came
for conference with Lloyd George
There was some organized singing
of Irish songs.
The first two sessions were de-
voted to getting acquainted. as, il
Is said, the delegates from both
sides were somewhat stiff when they
entered the room. Lloyd George
advanced to meet Arthur Griffith.
with his hands out and with words
Of welcome. Then he turned. smil-
ing to Michael Collins and held out
his hands. Collins came back with
his famous smile and a joke about
the changed conditions and il was
evident that he had made a hit with
the Prime Minister.
Appear Sincere.
One fct that emerged from tn.
first meetings is that Grifith and
Collins. the two men who count on
the Irish side, appeared to be anx-
ious to make the conference a
success and it is said that the
Prime Minister was much impressed.
not only by Collins genial good
humor. but his real ability and
grasp of the subject
The two delegations. faced each
other across table. There was no
chairman, but Lloyd George made a
Bttie iopnifrg speech Of welcome to
which Griffith replied. There was
some discussion about the agenda and
certain breaches OF the trucs in Ire
land were mentioned by both sides.
The leaders of each side disclaimed
any desire to protect the guilty and it
was arranged that a conference be
held tomorrow between the officials to
md methods for getting a better OBJ
seryance Of the truce.
2 Avoid Dangerous words.
The officials who have had much to
do with bringing about the conference
were distinctly happier over the pros
poets tonight.
Throughout the meetings. according
to report. the two provocative words
were not used-"sovereignty" blythe
British and independence" by the
Irish. An interesting suggestion was
made today that the breakup of the
conference on these rocks may be
avoided by confining the discussion to
the future relations of Ireland and
Great Britain and leaving the defini-
ton Of the present relationship to the
last. Thus ireland might consent to
enter the British commonwealth of
nations and having done so Great
Britain might allow 1t to sign a treaty
as an independent nation
Irish Suspicious.
Another rock Is the extreme suspicion
of the Irish and the fear that they
will be out-maneuvered by the willy
welshman. Lloyd George recognizes
this and is ready to exercise the ut
most patience and all Of his arts to
win their confidence
A telegram from Dublin tonight
says that the Sim Fein has decided
general meeting. from October Is to
"a This Is interpreted as a good sign
in London for Ard Feis' decisions will
have much influence on the future
course OF the Sim Fein politicians,
and it is believed that they wished
to be unhampered during the negotia-
tions.
(CopyriKht, le2l.)