New-York tribune., 1921-07-24
New Si1ln Fein
Offer to Ulster
Expected Next
De Valera to Seek Meeting
With Craig, Dublin Be-
Iieves, in an Effort to
Solve Tie-Up on Peace
irish Leaders Talk Terms
Lloyd George Program to
Go Before Dali Eireann
After Cabinet Meeting
Special Cable to TIL. Tribune

copyright, 1871, New York Tribune Inc
DUBLIN, July 23.-The Irish peace
program laid down by Premier Lloyd
George was discussed by a group of
Sim Fein leaders in a conference at
the Mansion House to-day. Eamon de
Valera, president Of "the Irish repub-
lic,' set forth the terms that Lloyd
George had communicated to him.
After the conference it was learned
that when the British proposals have
been considered at a full meeting of
De Valera's cabinet, they Will be re-
ferred to the Dali Eireann, or republi-
can parliament.
No date has yet been fixed for either
the Cabinet or the Parliament meet
lngs. The immediate DEVELOPMENT now
expected is a new interview between
De Valera and Sir James Craig, Ulster
Premier, which, it is said, the Sim
Feln leader will seek. De Valera hopes
! at such meeting to make the Orange
men another proposal, because he be-
lieves that the status of Ulster is the
cruX OF the present situation.
Terms Are Not Final
In authoritative circles the Tribune
correspondent learned that in the ne
gotiations in London between Premier
Lloyd George and De Valera, the
Premier started out by suggesting that
the new Irish settlement be based on
the present Home Rule act and that the
Sim Fein leader rejected this advance
fatty. When Lloyd Georges final
basis Of peace was drawn uo and
handed to De Valera there was no sug-
gestion of using the framework of the
present act.
1t is learned, also, that the Lloyd
George proposals are by no means the
last word from the British They are
couched in the broadest terms, and evil
IDENTIFY drafted with the expectation
that they would De subject to consid-
cradle negotiation. That some inter
probation will be needed, particularly
in the case of Ulster, is the impress
sion gained here. The actual nature
of the terms remains more or less
secret
The Tribune correspondent obtains
from an authoritative source the infor-
nation that Premier Lloyd George was
converted from an advocate of a strong
repression policy in Ireland to an en-
thuslastlc peacemaker not SO much by
King George as by President Harding.
Warned by General Smuts
The preliminary negotiations on the
subject of an international disarm a.
ment conference, it is said, convinced
the British Premier that he must set
his own house in order if he was to
retain the proper influence in such a
conference. About the same time.
General Jan c. SHUTS, South Africa n
Premier, called in Downing Street one
day and told Lloyd George that a con-
tinuation of his present policies would
result in the dissolution of the British
Empire. King George previously had
told the British Cabinet that there
must be peace overture, but Premier
Lloyd George had dissented from this
opinion and no steps had been taken.
About that time the invitation to a dis.
! armament conference in Washington
came along and Lloyd George decided
he was in the wrong. He switched over
and is now pursuing peace as earnest.
iy as previously he did war
The Irish people are disposed to ac
cept the sincerity Of the Premier in
the present negotiations as an estab-
lished fact and the feeling is growing
that peace on some basis as has been
proposed is not now far distant.