South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-28
BRITISH LEADERS
CLAIM SINN FEM
WILL ACCEPT PLAN
Irish Negotiations Reach Crit.
iCal Stage in England's
Point of View.

LONDON. Aug. 27-The Irish
negotiations now have reached the
critical stage in tho British view, as
mirrored by the great majority OF
newspapers. including those pre-
viousiy supporting home rule and
liberal newspapers such as the Daily
News and the Manchester Guardian.
which IN the past have gone almost
as far as the Sim Fein.
They thing the Sim Fein declara-
tons of the general principles have
gone far enough and that the time
has come for dropping declarations
OF principles and getting down to the
business of arranging the terms, il
the Sim Fem proposes to negotiate
the proposals which the government
offered 10 set forth in detail in
Prime Minister Lloyd-George's first
letter. The general belief express
ed is that Eamonn DeValera, the
Irish republican leader. having said
all that is necessary 70 assure Irish
men OF the Sim Fem theoretical
standpoint, will do this.
Hope For Peace.
There Is the belief. or at least
the hope, that the policy OF the
Irish republican cabinet will be,
while constantly affirming Ireland's
claim TO independence, 20 negotiate
at the same time terms for domin-
ion status under the new watchword
Of consent Of the governed-in other
words that. while clinging to the as
sertion OF the inherent light 10 in
dependence "the cabinet will con-
sent" 20 accept dominion status,
/ bargaining TO the last ditch for the
nearest approach TO independence
/ possib BILE
Il is hoped here that the final So
luton may rest upon a referendum
OF the Arish people. The new states
man, which is the most solid organ
/ OF the labor movement, asserts that
four-fifths OF the Irish people would
/ vote for acceptance Of the British
/ terms. II the Irish republican cab
/ met eventually refuses the British
terms, referendum of the British
/ people probably will follow in the
form OF the British governmnt re-
sorting TO a general election TO give
y a
confirm the governments policy
Judging from the newspapers.
there is a distinct hardening Of
British sentiment in the direction Of
coercing the Irish with more force
than hitherto has been used. British
sentiment, they declare, would ap-
prove this based on the feeling that
the government has offered very
generous concessions and the seces-
sion Of Ireland could not possibly
be permitted.
Ulster apparently is giving no
help 10 a compromise and DeValera,
it is believed here, must drop any
hope OF making an arrangement with
the northern provinces whereby
they will present a united front with
southern Ireland to Great Britain.
Prime Minister Lloyd-George sell
dom goes anywhere without mount
ing the platform and making
speech. Today he and his wife at
tended the wedding in Barnsley Of
Sir William Sutherland, a member
Of parliament and recently one Of
the prime minister's private secre-
taries, 10 Miss Fountain, who is the
owner OF coal mines and one Of the
/ richest women in England. After
making a congratulatory speech at
the wedding breakfast, Lloyd George
was conferred the freedom Of the
/ borough OF Barnsley.
In the speech that followed he
dwelt largely on the Irish question,
emphasizing that the Irish would be
foolish 10 reject a scheme OF self
government going beyond the am
bitiOns OF historic home rulers.