The Washington herald., 1921-07-05
Special cabls to he washtnrtou Herak
and chicago Tribans.)
By JOHN STEELE

Special c.sk to he w..htnrtss HsrsN
and Chicago Tribuns.)
By JOHN STEELE
DUBLIN, July July 4 may be-
come as important a date in Irish
history as that in the United states.
I Today in the historic Dublin Man
sion House, the official residence
OF the Lord Mayor, the first meeting
Of a series which all hope and many
believe will bring peace in Ireland
was held on the invitation OF
Eamonn de Valera president Of the
Irish Republic" De Valera was
accompanied by Arthur Griffith.
Vice President Of the Irish Repub-
Iic." who, although just fresh from
prison, appeared to be in excellent
health.
The Southern Cnionists were rep
resented by Lord Middleton. former
British Secretary Of War; Sir Robert
Woods. Sir Maurice Dockrell. Ieas-
ing Dublin business man. and An
drew johnson, Of the "a nous distill-
ing firm. Ulster was not represent
ed. Sir James Craig having refused
an invitation from de Valera to meet
him before the conference. was sum
moned by Prime Minister Lloyd
George. This refusal many believe
was due 70 the tactless phrasing Of
the letter OF invitation. and il is
hoped Craig may yet enter the ALI
Ireland conference preliminary to
the London meeting.
All Have L. $. Flags.
A big American flag few from a
Mansion House window. and over
the roof the green municipal Tag
OF Dublin floated. No Republican
fisgs were seen. but IL seemed as
IL everyone in the crowd Of thou
sands outside the Mansion House
carried the American flag. No tro0ps
or police were in sight, but order
was kept by members Of the Re-
publican army. At l0:45 a m a
burst OF cheering signsled the ar
rival Of de Valera in an automobile.
Just before II a. m. Arthur GrintnS
came on foot. and then also on foot
came Sr. Maurice Dockrell and the
remainder OF the Unionists.
The meeting was held in Lord
Mayor O'Neill's private parlor
promptly on time and lasted until
after ? p. m. At the close a brief
statement was given out. saying:
An informal conference was call
ed by President de Valera. Views
were exchanged on the situation
created by the British Prime Minis
ter's proposal. Certain agreements
were come to and the conference
adjourned until IL a. m. Friday
next"
Demand BandOn's Release.
Every effort was made TO keep
the proceedings secret learned.
however, that Lord Middleton az
once demanded the release OF Lord
Bandon, the aged peer who was
kidnapped by the Republican army
two weeks ago. and De Valera prom
Used to do his best. Lord Middleton
also made general claims for minor
ity representation in any Irish par
Lament to be set up.
j also understand the Sim Feiu
is now ready TO accept the South
African dominion plan for giving
Ulster the fullest autonomy inside
l1relsnd. In this connection II fs sig
nifcant that Premier Smuts is eN-
lpected in Dublin within a day or
two. 1t is rumored that he is al
reay here, but that, / am assured.
is not true. II is hoped that Pre-
mier SHUTS will consent to induce
Sir James Craig to come TO the ALL
Ireland conference before going to
London. CO.
Seek Early Truce.
There is little doubt that Prime
Minister Lloyd Georges invitation
finally will be accepted, but the Sim
lFeiners would like to have him put
on paper his final offer instead OF
trying to arrive at a bargain by
haggling across a table. This, how
ever, will not likely be allowed TO
stand in the way of a meeting. They
also desire that a formal truce be
established as soon as possible
At the end OF the conference the
lUnionists left in a body, they being
heartily cheered by the crowd. which
before that had been praying for the
success of the meeting. A few min
utes later De Valera came on the
steps of the mansion house and
made a short speech in Irish. say
ing he was glad to be free amongst
them again.
Progress In MADE.
Afterwards a Sim Fein confer
ence was held at the mansion House
at which Robert Barton. the Repub-
lican minister Of agriculture. who
has just been released from Portland
Jail after serving sixteen months5of
a threc-year sentence Of penal ssry1-
tude, was present. Others at the
meeting were Count Plunkett, Ers-
kline Childers, Michael Duggan ana
a number of other Sim Fein mem
bers of parliament.
There is a feeling of decided opti-
mism in Dublin tonight. Great steps
will have been made II the South
agrees 20 present a united front in
demanding a domipion status ana
abandons the republic, sanj if the
lNcrth can be induced to cooperate.
peace is certain.
toepyrShk isx1