Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-15
irish People Await
Result London Conference

Dublin, July 14-tBy the Associa-
ted Press The great majority of
the Irish people appear to entertain
no doubt that at the informal con-
eerences which at this writing are
lust beginning in London, Eamonn
De Valera, the Irish leader, will as
sert Ireland's claim to a republic,
based upon the peoples decision at
the elections. When the British
Prime Minister, Mr. Lloyd George,
as is expected here. replies that a re-
public never will be granted, it is
predicted he will follow this reply
with an offer of the most that can
. be conceded.
everything, it is considered here,
depends upon the nature of that Of
fer. II it is big enough there will be
formal conferences to settle the de-
tails The impression gathered by
conversations in responsible Ihish
quarters here is that Mr.. De Valera
will be able to accept what he will
be offered. He will keep in touch
with Irish opinion and, though it is
believed he will maintain the repub-
lican principle, he is expected to
leave to the Irish people the deter
mlnatlon as to whether the warfare
shall be carried on or a settlement
accepted. Up to this writing he has
agreed to nothing and the govern
ment does not know what his atti-
tude VIII be toward whatever offer
is made.
The cruX of the situation. as it is
viewed here, is finance The Irish
virtually are unanimous that no
system can be called self govern
ment that withholds from Ireland
control of its own money to collect
spend to impose taxa ton as it
pleases. Under the Home rule act
this is done by British authority,
the Imperial treasury refundine to
Ireland the sums collected minus
lS,OO0,OoO year, Ireland's contri-
button to Imperial purposes and the
cost OF the reserved SERVES.
The intention was to maintain one
fiscal policy for the United Kingdom
and to prevent differentiation be-
tween taxation in Ireland and Great
Britain, for example. British manu-
tacturers do not want to compete
with Irish manufacturers who in
come tax would be impossibly one
third that fthe British. The con-
cession of fiscal independence as
complete as i'll the case Of the Dom
lnions would be great advance on
any previous. Offer to any Irish
leader, and many express the opin-
ION that Nh DC Valera may consid-
er If he gets them. that the rest of
the problem MAJ be left to settle it.
self
The Ulster question is linked with
that of finance and might it is
thought in some quarters, be even
tually settled through it. Three
forms of financia! autonomy have
been suggested: The first to be given
ireland as unit, eXercisable
through joint Irish parliament con-
Meeting the northern and southern
parliaments: the second to be given
both parliaments and exercise BILE
separately. enabling fiscal policies
applicable, if thought fit. against
each other; the third to be given the
soutern parliament alone. leaving the
northern parliament within the Bri-
fish fiscal system. OF these alterna-
tives, the Sim Fein, il is asserted
would prefer the first, and might
even find the third tolerable. On the
other hand, the northern parliament.
IT is conceded, would certainly pre-
Tor the second, and the question is. as
southern Ireland views it. whether
listers influence on British politics
remains sufficiently strong TO secure
its wishes, even at the cost of rup-
turing the negotiations.
There is declared to be no DISPOSE
ton on the part o fthe Sim Fein to
diminish the local autonomy granted
the six counties of northern Ireland
under the Home Rule act, and it is
believed here it would be easy to de-
wise a system for greatly increasing
the local powers of those counties
while preserving the unity of Ireland
Unless Mr.. Lloyd Georges finan-
cial terms differ widely from any
previously contemplated. it is pre-
d'cted in well-informed quarters
here hat the negotiations probably
will break down. Mr.. De Valera and
his financial experts thoroughly I'M
derstand the essentials Of the Prime
Minister'S position and will closely