The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-27
CONTENTS OF NOTE COME AS SURPRISE
 ID S|NN FE|NERS
Expected Further Arguments on Claims of Ireland Instead of Repetition of ESsen-
 tiaI Conditions
By Associated Press


 Dublin, August 26.-The letter of Premier Lloyd George to DeValera was received in Dublin late tonight. Its contents came as a surprise to the Sim Feiners. They had ex- pected further arguments on the claims of Ireland they had raised instead of repetition of the es- sential conditions of the British government made known to MT. De- Valera at the conference in Down. ing street month ago.
 A meeting of the Dali Eireann was hurriedly summoned for tomorrow morning at II o'clock to consider the situation.
 In Dublin castle quarters tonight ,he iast sentence in the premer's s letter is considered as making pos sible further meetings for the dis cussion of the situation with repre- sentatives of the Sim Feiners unless they regard the words of the premier as challenge.
 There IS reason to believe that the people do not desire a resumption of the warfare at which the premier plainly hints as possibility in case there IS delay in ending the contro- versy. It Is thought the fear ex- pressed by Mir. Lloyd George in this respect is based on reports he has received of widespread drilling throughout the country by Sim Feiners. They declare they do not regard such activity as a breach of the truce. asserting that equal activ- | ity has prevailed in the military barracks and that machine gun prac- tice awakens the Dublin citizenry every morning.
 1 The general impression in Sim Fein and other circles here today vas that the exchanges between Mir. DeValera and Mir. Lloyd, George con stituted only a new stage in the pro- longed negotiations.
 | Secret Session Held
 After today's public session of the 1 Dali Eireann, at which Eamonn De- 1 Valera was unanimously elected leader Of the Irish republicans with the title of "Prosident of the Iris sh republic,r and Arthur Griffith, foun- der of the Sim Fein, vas chosen 1 Vice President, secret session of the Parliament was held. According to the official report only ordinary business was transacted
 Mir. Devalera. in accepting re-eIec- ton said he had been credited with undoing things that had been done by his comrades, mentioning Mir Griffith, Michael Collins and others | He added there never had been diff cultes between himself and his col leagues and that when the British arrested him at Black Rock they found on him document signed by the ministry which proved his asser- tion
 The deputies of the Parliament had made arrangements to return to their homes Saturday but tonight they are awaiting to hear what the next move in the situation will be If the negotiations are to continue however, their presence will not be 1 required as the cabinet has plenary power to negotiate.
 New Loans Sanctioned During the session of Parliament today an internal loan of 500.oOo pounds and loan in the United States of s20,ooo,OOo were sane toned. Both MT. DeValera ano Michael Collins declared these loans would not be subscriptions, but loans which would be repaid. Mir De- Valera pointed out that the aggre' gate amount of the loans did not equal what Great Britain had "ex' tracted from Ireland in two months in the form of taxes" Nothing wa' | said during the debate about the rate of interest the loans woulc carry. but 1t was assumed that Il would be at 6 per cent.
 The Irish Bulletin tonight records the arrest last week of three alleged government spies who were charged with watching members of the Dall Eireann outside Mansion House This was repudiated by Dublin Cas- tie. where it was said the men were on leave of absence.
 Today Sim Feiners made three additional arrests of similar alleged offenders. One of these was 'nsiue Mansion House. where the Fariia. ment sits Sim Fein leaders assert thai despite assurances from Dublin Castle many men in plain clothes are shadowing deputies.