The New York herald., 1921-07-15
Conference to Be Continued
To-day, Followed by En-
trance of Sir James Craig
Into Situation.
SINN FEN PRAY INSTREET.
Demonstration Made Near
Scene of Parley-Prime Min !
lister Said to Have Asked 3
Most of Questions.
Special Cable to THE New York HERALD
Copu.fnht 1921. by THE NEw YoRK HERAL0.


New York Herald bureau.
London, July IA.
THE Prime Minister Of Great Brit
ain and the President of the Irish
Republic talked together alone at No.
10 Downing street this afternoon until
after. 7 o'clock A free exchange of
views took place and their relative po-
sitions were defined. They agreed to
meet again at 1880 o'clock"
That bare official statement per-
haps better than any comment con-
veys hopes Of Irish peace, particularly
If it is observed that the term "Presi-
dent of the Irish Republic" is in quota
ton marks.
The two sat alone throughout all
that time. In one other room In
member of the Sim Fein cabinet, just
out after eighteen months in Portland
prison for having made seditious
speech in Dublin, and Art O'Brien.
Sim Fein representative in London.
who had his hair dyed and his mus
tache shaved off to avoid similar
fate. In another room sat Sir Hamar
Greenwood, Chief Secretary for Ire
land. and other Irish advisers, but
Lloyd George and De Valera were not
interrupted throughout the entire talk
Portent Of Success.
That those two--the supreme po-
litical representatives of the respective
sides which were shooting each other
on sight across st. Georges Channel
a scant three days ago-were able to
sit thus alone through such pro-
longed session and will continue the
session tomorrow augurs we'll for the
prospects of a settlement. The confer
ence was described as having ended
"amiably."
Fifty yards away, where Downing
street d,bouches into Whitehall,
crowd of a thousand Irish men and
women alternately sang Irish songs.
shouted Irish cheers and dropped 10
their knees on the dusty pavements 10
pray Irish prayers, while over every
door in Downing street itself could be
seen Sim Fein flags fluttering in the.
breeze-the flag the possession OF which
means a long term OF penal servitude in
Ireland.
That state OF affairs augurs two
things. namely. that De Valera Is willing
to abandon the claim of an independent
Irish republic under that name IL ho
can get the substance of which the
name Is merely a shadow. and than
Premier Lloyd George Is willing to as
certain extent to concede that the man
for whom more than So per cent. Of the
Irish people recently voted represents
Irish opinion.
Relation to Ulster.
Downing Street announced tonight
that Sir James Craig. Premier Of Ulster.
was coming from belfast tomorrow. but
particular care was taken to emphasize
that his visit 10 the Prime Minister then
has nothing to do with to-day's and to-
morrow's conference with De Valera
This by no means indicates that Pr
rnier Lloyd George has abandoned UlstC
II there Is a settlement he will insist
that X must include the protection or
the six northern counties from oppres-
sion by the south. but II Is known that
one OF the things on which De Valera Is
charged not to yield jot or little IL
that Ulster never again could be used
as "bridgehead" for further British
oppression Of ireland.
While no authentic account of exactly
what happened between the two men In
available, one story has II that Mr..
Lloyd George was sitting at his desk
when his secretary announced: "Mr.
de Valera"
The two men faced each other for q
moment and then each approached.
smiled and silently shook hands. For
the first few moments the conversation
was almost stiff and decidedly unconi-
Portable. according to one account. Mr..
Lloyd George asking all the questions
while Mr.. de Valera. in his intense. i'm
pressive manner with his eyes nxed on
his questioner. answering In rapid nrs
fashion.
Smoking Eases situation.
IL Is reported that the answers to the
FIRST questions made distinct impress
sion on Mr.. Lloyd George, and he
reached for a box OF cigars, but Mr..
de Valera, with his almost fanatic aus
terity. neithex smokes nor drinks. Pre-
mier Lloyd George smoked. however,
and even that seemed 10 case the at
mosphere OF the conference. Then they
hammered through point after point Of
theory ana practice in Anglo-frish af-
fairs for nearly three hours.
When Mr.. de Valera emerged he
looked decidedly drawn. The only other
time that this man had been the guest
OF the British Government was at Lin
coin Jail. He strode out OF the FROM
door Of 10 Downing street obviously
flustered, and stepped rapidly into a
big Rolls-Royce car which local Irish
enthusiasts had placed at his disposal.
Some Of the Irish sympathizers Al
tered past the guards TO the very doors
Of 10 Downing street and raised loud
cheers. A scurry OF photographers and
movie men warned the crowd In White
hall, however, and they trailed OF n