Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-22
MICHAEL COLLINS
GOES TO IRELAND
Irish Leader Expected to Tell
De Valera of Crisis Over
Letter to Pope
WRECK OF PARLEY FEARED
by the Associated Press

LOHNOH, oCI. --,--hlCnapl NollllS,
Finance Minister of the Dali Eireann
and delegate to the conference here
with British Government officials look
ing TO a settlement of the Irish qucs-
ton. left London for Dublin today.
1t was stated that Collins was going
to Ireland on private business, but in
the light of the crisis which was
reached in the conference negotiations
yesterday it was regarded as probable
IN political quarters that the chief rea-
son underlying his visit was a desire to
see Eamon dc Valera and inform him
of the effect his unexpected telegram to
Pope Benedict had produced.
1t was reported today that the Sim
F'ein had been asked by the Govern
mcnt representative for assurances that
the question Of republic in Ireland be
eliminated from the conference discus
SiOnS.
Defend De Valera Letter
The point was made at Sim Foin
Headquarters this afternoon that Mr..
dc Valera had said nothing in his telc-
gram to the Pope that he did not say
in his correspondence with Premier
Lloyd GcOrgd while the latter was at
Inverness. The Sim Fcincrs called at
tCntion also to the fact of Mr.. dc
Valera s refusal to withdraw his state
mCut of republican principles on Mr..
Lloyd Georges demand.
If it was wrong Of the republican
leader to rcassCrt this principle at the
present juncturC, it was argued, it was
equally wrong Of King Georges ad-
viscrs to present their own view in the
Kings telegram to the Pontiff.
In his letter De Valera expressed
hope that the ''ambiguitics' in the
reply sent in the name of King George
would not lead tho Pope to believe
Ireland or that the Irish owed
allegiance to the King.
He said tho Independence Of Ireland
had been formally proclaimed by rcgu-
lariy elected representatives of the
people and that the conflict was du" to
the l,ritish trying to impose their will
upon the Irish by brute force.
Dc Valera added that tho Irish
wished peace, but that they would meyer
abandon their fight for national freedom.
Fear Rupture Of Parley
Possible rupture Of the Irish confer
cncP. II general political crisis in Eng
land and the cancellation of Prime Min
lister Lloyd Grurgc'S visit to Washing
ton were features in London newspapers
today.
The telegram sent TO Pope Benedict
by De Valera, in which thcr" was ad-
verse criticism of King Georges recent
message to the pontifr, srcmcd to be
considered us II phas" of the situation
which thrcatcnrd Il continuance OF the
negotiations for finding basis Of peace
IN ireland.
with one exception. the action OF
Mr.. De Valera was condemned by news
unprrS her" today, EDITORIALS varying
from not u"nlh"|atl"h 10 HorroW'ul re-
sr"t. y view put forward IN some quar-
tors that I'll" message to Iop" h"n"dirt
was merely Il pee" "l tar'HHSil'SS W"l'h
should not be treated TOO seriously was
not adopted AhNWh'r" IN 'hc '"ndoh
I press som" rnhnncn'S rharE'n MN
with insulting 'h' hlhg' the l'pHr ana
ms own G''"gatES now III c"n''T'nre
& h"r'' ahu H"l" u" ia" '"'l''"o'" INC
rhan''S OF peace
Hard 10 Smooth Over
Even where there was a disposition
to make the best of the incident it was
admitted the action of Mr.. dc Valera
had created n situation which would
urcd tho greatest tact to smooth over.
! The Daily News. one of Mr.. dc Va
Icra's warmcst supporters, said: "ThiS