Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-06-28
Moderates Fear Tragic Re
suits if Premier's Peace
! Move Fails =
DE VALERA TO PICK
Refusal May be Signal For Intensified
Military ampaign, is Bslief-Com-
ment of Guardian" on Conference

London, June 2S.-Bel:af that Ea-
nlCnn de Valera, president of the
lr::n Republic" will accept Premier
Lloyd Georges invitation to come to
London fer conference with the
government and Premier Craig, off VI
ster, designed to bring about set
element Of the Irish problem, is ex-
pressed in the majority of reports
reaching this city from Dublin. An!
ueports agree that Lloyd Georges
Invitation caused a profound sensa-
tion in Dublin, and that the question
whether de Valera would accept was
THE subject on general speculation.
Sources predicting that de Valera
viii accept are generally agreed that
he probably will attach sharp 'condl-
tons to his acceptance, one being
that none binding guarantees than
were contained in Lloyd Georges let
ter must be given regarding the safe
conduct eff certain of his colleagues
whom de Valera may wish to have ac
company him. This applies especially
to Michael Collins, former command
n-clasef cf the Irish republican
anpny, and Richard Mukahy, who fire.
quently has been referred to IN Eng
land as an Organizer cf assass!na-
t:ons."
1t is stated in some quarters that
de VaHera would not go to London
without These two men, while it also
was predicted that he would insist
cpon release off either men nc'w IN
eerred cr imprisoned I'm order that
they might accompany him. 1t was
pointed out that the wording off the
Premisr's letter would make it I'M
pcssaole for him to refuse such de,
mand. This was considered to !corlst!-
nlte remarkable and significant
change in the attitude off The British
Prem len. who earlier in the year had
excepted certain Sinn Feiners from
these whcm he would be willing to
receive a negotiation. The men except
cd had been denounced in the House
cf commons as murdeTers.
In the event thai de Valera rafuses
the Prenr;er's Invitation, it is gener
ally believed that the government will
make energetic preparations fer Il
vigorous campaign to suppress Sim
Fein activities in THE West and South.
Troops which could be used fer this
ourpcse ar1e constantly arriving in Ire
land.
Moderate S:nn Fe5ners are repre-
sented as being extremely anxious
that De Valera accept Premier
Lloyd Georges Invitation. 1t is sa:d
;hat they can soc no possibility of end
mig the conflict under pnesent condl-
tons, and that they fear Terrible re,
suits eff an intensified military cam
paign is begun as result Of re1ec'
ton of Lloyd Georges overutres.
Ir the event of De Valera accept
ing Mn. Lloyd Georges Invitation 1t
IS altogether probable that the Dom
;nicn Prime Ministers, now in Lon
dcn, will be invited oy the British
Prime Minister to participate in the
regulations.
If Mr.. de Valera accepts bhe invita-
t:on, the coming week N London may
we'll he one of the most momeistcus
in a century of British history. With
the miners and their employees called
20 confer today, with nope for the
settlement of the Irish question pre-
serted and with the Anglo-Japanlese
alliance and an that it involves ur-
der consideration.
The Manchester Guardian, in Ell
editorial capticned "1s it Business" "
says Premier Lloyd George fer the
first time has taken a definitely Prac
teal step toward a settlement of the
Irish question The Guardian Is of
the cpnr:on that the conferece viii
be largely ore between the Sinn Fen
and Ulster, which, it says, makes all
the difference "for 1t cannot be too
between Irishnpen is key to an
agreement, between Ireland as wh.-Ge
and this ccunnry."'
re ~rar mont q pnnd manor SIlhsprjnp