The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-08-26
IRISH REJECT
BRITISH TERMS
Full Official Letters Between
Lloyd George and Erln's Chief
That Precipitate New Crisis.
ROAD TO PEACE NOT CLOSED
Promises to Sim Fein Included Au-
tonomy in Finance, Police Control
and Native Military-De Valera
Declares for Absolute Separation.

London. - The correspondence be-
tween the British prime minister, Mr..
Lloyd George, and Eamon de Valera,
the Irish Republican leader, made pub
lie by the British government, shows
that there is a deadlock on the ques-
tion of independence for Ireland.
De Valera has refused to accept the
proposals of the British government,
constituting dominion government, de-
claring that the conditions sought to
be imposed constituted interference in
Irish affairs and control which cannot
be permitted.
On the other hand, Mr.. Lloyd George
has informed Mr. de Valera that there
can be no compromise on the question
of the righ, of Ireland to secede from
her allegiance to the King.
"Our proposals present to the Irish
people" says the premier, IAN oppor-
tunity such as never has dawned In
their history before. We have made
them In a sincere desire to achieve
peace, but beyond them we cannot 60"
Mr.. Lloyd George leaves open the
door for possible further negotiations
with Mr.. de Valera by saying that the
government will discuss the applica-
ton of the principles of its offer when
ever acceptance Of the principles is
communicated to him.
The official records in the Irish
peace negotiations were made public
unexpectedly. The disclosures cOnsti-
tute the keenest political sensation
since the close of the war.
The politicians of both England and
Ireland were discussing the question
whether the door had been closed on
further negotiations. They seemed to
find in the conciliatory tone of the
correspondence, however. ground for
hope that some bridge might yet be
built across the chasm of difference
over the question Of independence. 1t
was the consensus that all depends
upon the temper of the Dali Eireann
when it meets In Dublin, but thai al
together Ireland stands at present at
the most critical point Of her history.
The correspondence shows Great
Britain offered Ireland complete au
tonomy in finance and taxation. mill
tary forces for home defense, her own
police and, among other things, con-
troll of the Irish postal services.
Mr.. de Valera, however. declares
dominion status for Ireland as offered
is ilIusory because 'the freedom the
British dominions enjoy Is less the re-
suit Of legal enactments or treaties
than of the immense distances which
separate them from Great Britain"
In high Sim Fein quarters the opin-
ion was expressed that unless some
thing unforeseen happens there will
be breakdown n the negotiations
which it had been hoped would bring
peace to Ireland, and that in such a
contingency the truce now existing
would terminate and renewed warfare
would speedily follow.
Premier's offer still stands guaran-
teeing full dominion status, and the
fullest control of internal affairs, the
territorial army and the nations own
police, with the reservations regard
ing the navy and taxation. The pre-
mier's offer bars interstate protective
duties by either party and provides
that Ulster must be left alone.
The publication of the conference
correspondence following Gen. Jan
Smut's letter of advice is somewhat
resented in Dublin, but it Is believed
that this can be smoothed over.
Ulster is still standing aloof. Sir
James Craig wrote to Lloyd-George
that Ulster is standing aside in the
interests of peace and will not inter-
fere between the south of Ireland and
Great Britain.
listers position is understood to be
that it Is against the interests Of u
ster to settle on the basis proposed to
the Sim Fein, but that Ulster is pre-
pared to cooperate on equal terms
with the south when the south has set
tied with England.