The Washington herald., 1921-09-16
Lloyd George Wires That
Arrangements Are
Cancelled.
WON'T RECOGNIZE
IRISH SOVEREIGNTY
Note Rejects This as
Basis for Nego-
tiatiOn.
Especial Cabs to The wsshinrton Herald
and Urited Nevt.)

Especial c.bls to Tho Washington Herald
and United Nevt.)
LONDON. Sept. I5.-LIoyd George
has cancelled the proposed Irish
peace conference at Inverness.
The premier. after publication OF
Eamonn de Valera's acceptance"
OF the invitation. telegraphed the
Irish president that he found IL
necessary to call off arrangements.
, De Valera's insistence on recogni-
ton Of Ireland's independence as a
prerequisite to the conference
caused the rupture. The premier
stated that the conference must
discuss this phase as well as all
others.
situation Very Serious.
The premier's action creates the
most critical situation since July,
when negotiations began.
His dispatch to De Valera came
after couriers from Dublin had vIs-
tied him at Gairloch and discussed
with him the principle upon which
the negotiations now appear to
have foundered.
VIII Consult Cabinet.
In his message to De Valera, the
premier says lit would be neces-
sary to consult his colleagues. to
determine what action is necessary
by the new situation" I'm the
meantime" he continues, Il must
make it absolutely clear that the
government cannot reconsider its
position"
Lloyd George insists that Sim
Fein's delegation shall come as
representatives OF a dominion loyal
TO the crown and an integral part
Of the British Empire. DE Valera
insists that they shall &C as repre-
sentatives of an independent and
sovereign state-to discuss the
question of allegiance.
wsrsed IL Was Unacceptable.
De vsIera's reply, published to-
day. was Identical with the messaEe
carried by the two Sim Fein cou-
riers. Its text was given out by
De Valera in spite Of the fact that
he had beer warned by Lloyd
George that IL was hopelessly un-
acceptsblS
Lloyd George in his telegram re-
vealed that he had Informed the
couriers that reiteration Of the res
ervation that the Irish leaders
negotiate as representatives OF an
independent apG sovereign state"
would make the conference impos-
sible.
What He Told Courier,-
Il pointed out to the couriers, %
he says, that your letter spe-
cifically reamrms that claim, stat
ing that your nation has formally
declared its Independence and rec
ognizes ITSELF as a sovereign state
and that it is only as representa-
tiyes of that state that its dele
gates have any power or authority
to act in behalf of the IRISH people.
asked them to warn you of the
serious effect of such a paragraph"
Lloyd George added that he was
willing to regard the letter as still
undelivered in order to afford De
Valera opportunity 10 reconsider
his position In spite Of this init
nation" he continues, you have
published the letter in it's original
form"
De VaIera's Reply.
The text Of De valera's note fol-
lows:
we are unhesitating in declar-
ing our willingness to enter a con-
ference to ascertain how the asso-
citation of Ireland with the asso-
cation Of nations commonly known
as the British empire can best be
reconciled with Irish national as
pirations.
Our readiness TO contemplate
such an association was indicated
In our letter of August 10. We
have accordingly summoned the
Dan Eireann that We may submit
to 1t for ratification the names OF
the representatives il is our inten-
lon TO propose. We hope that thes..
representatives will find il posi-
Die to be at Inverness on the date
you suggest, September 20.
In this final note we deem IL
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.