The New York herald., 1921-09-17
"A MATTER OF PHRASING
One Says Republic Other
No Republic but Really
Not Far Apart.
NEITHER WANTS A BREAK
London Paper Calls Difference
One of Form Rather Than
Substance.


Special Gable to THE New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London, Sept. 16.
With both Irish and British opin
ion, expressed through every possible
channel, calling loudly for Irisl
peace, Eamon de Valera to-day tool
the first step in resuming the nego
tiations. He telegraphed to Premie
Lloyd George at Gairlock declaring
Ireland's future required that befor'
her representatives entered any con
ference the position of the Irish peo
pie should be made clear.
The communication of the Irisl
president" and the. circumstance.
under which it was sent have
strengthened the opinion that tn,
situation is far from hopeless ant
that both sides are striving to avoi6
rupture.
Mr.. de Valera's note read.
II received your telegram last
night and am surprised that you
do not see that If we on our side
accepted conference on the basis
Of your letter of September z
without making our position quite
clear Ireland's representatives
would enter the conference with
their position misunderstood and
the cause OF Ireland's right irrep-
arably prejudiced. Throughout
the correspondence that has taken
place you have defined your Gov
ernment's position. We have de-
fined ours.
IF the positions were not so
definitely opposed there would in
deed be no problem to be dis
cussed. 1t should be obvious that
In case like ours IL there is to
be any result the negotiators must
meet without prejudice and un-
trammeled by any conditions
whatever except those imposed by
the facts as they know them
In a general sense the negotiations
are now bang up against difficulty
which has been barring a settlement
for months. Actually the two posi-
tions are not far apart. But each
side has taken definite political
stand upon certain catchwords-De
valera's is "the republic" Lloyd
Georges mo republic"-a the for
mula has not yet been found to recon
cile the two.
Both Would Avoid Break.
De Valera's letter to-day coming or
top of wavc of resentment over the
prospect OF breaking off the Irish
truce expressed throughout the Brit.
tsh Isles--with the exception of Bel.
fast and the London Morning Post
taken with the lack of finality of Mr.
Lloyd Georges telegram calling of
the conference last night, shows thai
both sides want to avoid break. II
would be futile to say now that 1t will
be easy for success 70 result. FOR
neither side can gracefully abandon
the position which each has main.
tained on heroic scale for months.
II Mr.. de Valera in his letter TO-DAY
could have said what Is the fact. tina,
"we'll accept some form Of allegiance
from the British Empire II adequate
liberties under that plan are assured .
1t would be easy for the Premier "a
accept.
II Mr.. Lloyd George could say wha,
is equally the fact: "All right, come
In, let's talk 1t over" Il would be easy
for Mr.. de Valera.
But both sides insist on going to the
conference with the flags flying,
whether they are nailed to the mast or
not. One extremely hopeful element
In Mr.. De valera's letter is that II
confines its references In defining his
position to the actual negotiations
ieaving out any reference to the rights
ana desires and irrevocabie determi-
nations OF the Irish people.
Lloyd George 20 Try Agate.
What he Is plainly trying 10 set Is
an opportunity TO send his "sovereign'
nnd republican" plenipotentiaries into
the conference to strike his bargain
and II will be shrewd move then 70
submit the results to the Irish people
at . new election.
1r. Lloyd George is now returning
from Scotland for n Cabinet council
here. There Is no doubt that there will
be forces present at the council meet.
Ing to press for breaking Off the ne.
gotiations and launching upon the pac.
ifcatlon OF ireland. But what seems
most likely to happen Is that Mr. Lloyd
George viii try to frame a new letter
saying, IAN right. come into the con-
ference with your sovereign flag hy-
Continued or Seventh Pace.