Evening star., 1921-07-18
SHUTS IS FACTOR
!. AS LEADERS SEEK
|. IRISH SETTLEMENT
De Valera Again Meets Lloyd
George and Craig Will Be
Received Tonight.
PREMIER ALSO CONFERS =
WITH CABINET MEMBERS
Crowds Await Irish Chiefs Arrival
in Whitehall-Cheer Him as
He Goes to Meeting.
By the Associated Press,

he UOeS TO MeetlnS.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 1S.-The Irish
situation, 1T was declared in re-
sponsible quarters tonight, has
developed into virtually a dead
lock between Premier Lloyd George
and Sir James Craig, the Ulster
premier, and the latter has been
given an opportunity to go to Bel
fast to see If anything can be done
in the circumstances.
LONDON. July 1s-Eamon de Va
lera. the Irish republican leader. in
response to an invitation by the
prime minister, Mr.. Lloyd George.
called at No. 10 Downing street, the
prime minister's official residence, at
AIS o'clock this afternoon to confer
with Mr.. Lloyd George on the Irish
question.
Crowds again awaited the arrival
of the Irish leader in Whitehall and
cheered him as he entered Downing
street.
Gen. SHUTS Again Factor.
Gen. Jan c. Smuts. the South Afri-
can premier. who had a prominent
part in the early informal negotia-
tions which brought about the truce
in Ireland and the peace conference
now in progress, reappeared today as
a factor in the Irish negotiations.
Mr.. Lloyd George. the prime minis
ter, had been at his official residence
in Downing street only a short time
this forenoon, after his return from
the country. when Viscount FitZalan.
the lord lieutenant of Ireland, called
talk with the premier during whicn
they were Joined by Gen. Smuts. the
conference continuing more than an
hour.
Gen. Smuts had not figured pre-
viously in the conversations which
street since the truce went into eff
feet, his last known active partici-
patton in the pourparlers having been
on the occasion of his return from
Dublin the week before last. when
he reported the results Of his visit
to Mr.. Lloyd George and to King
George. 1t was learned today, how
ever. that the prime minister and
Gen. Smuts had a long discussion of
the situation yesterday at Cheduers
Court. 1t was Gen. Shuts Dublin
trip which is believed to have much
cations to London for the peace con-
ferences
Bar Ulster Premier.
Any conference at present between
de Valera and Sir James Craig, the
Ulster premier, is declared by Sim
Fein spokesmen to be out Of the
question.
de Valera considers the Ulster pre-
mier as outside the scope of the pres
ent negotiations. and they have de-
clined to indicate even whether the
time might come when he could be
regarded by them as a party to the
discussions. They were leaving the
British government to deal with him.
they declared.
At thu conclusion of the conference,
participated in by Mr.. Lloyd George,
Viscount Fitzalan and Gen. Smuts.
the prime minister called the cabinet
commons this afternoon. after which
Mr.. de Valera was asked to call at
Downing street at 4:15 o'clock. Sir
James Craig, 1t was stated, had been
invited to come to Downing street
early this evening.
Meanwhile the Ulster premier was
continuing his consultations with the
members of his cabinet, whom he
called here last week. These develop
ments were accepted in well informed
quarters as indications that whatever
immediate difficulty may exist lies be-
tween the prime minister and the
Ulsterites, in view of the statement
from de Valera's party yesterday that
they did not know what Sir James
was doing and that the British were
dealing with him.
Editorial Comment.
In view of the secretiveness Of all
those principally concerned in the
Irish negotiations. this mornings edi-
torial comment generally is cautious
writer's venture the belief that any
definite outcome is not to be expected
for some time yet, and intimate that
Sim Fein leaders are not inclined to
hasten the deliberations.
The Daily Mail, indicating its belief
protracted. says that Eamonn de Valera
has hfnted that he will have to return
to Dublin this week to consult the
Irish republican parliament after
hearing from Premier Lloyd George a
final exposition Of the governments
meet Sir James Craig, the Ulster lead
er, until after such a consultation.
Citing another reason for delay, the
same writer says that special treas
ury department report has been or
dered on certain financial aspects that
that should any definite developments
depend upon such a report they must
await its completion, which
would consume considerable time.
In some quarters, however, there are
warnings against oversanguineness,
ties which yet remain to be sur
mounted. Another reason for these
less optimistic expressions is found in
a dispatch from the Herald's Dublin
correspondent, who says that Irish
republican army training and equip
ping operations, which are no forbid
den by the recent armistice, are pro-
ceeding vigorously, SO that should the
London negotiations fail, everything
will be in readiness to resume the
field.
IRISH TRUCE SUCCESSFUL.
By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright 1921.
DUBLIN, Ireland, July 1s.-The
perfect observance of the truce for
a week exceeded the expectation, as
each side doubted the others power
to control the rank and file. The
thing was managed by co-operation
between the British army and the
army STATS. Men "on the
run" or released from prison reane
peared as military chiefs, working
equally with the British brass hats"
ana in one case, where a republican
leader was delayed. the British COM
mander advertised for him.
The power of the republicans to
the military authorities, who had not
the discipline. and organiza-
tion Of the Sim Fein army.