New-York tribune., 1921-10-22
Called Insult by British
as Council Adjourns
With Prospect Of Final
Dissolution on Monday
Irish Surprised
BY Leaders Action
London Holds 1t Effort to
Force Terms Before the
Premier's Trip to u. S.
From The 7riunnc.s Enronann Rurenu

LONDON, Oct. 21.-Rcpresenta-
tlves of the British government in re-
suming peace negotiations with the
Sinn Fein delegates here to-day made
1t plain to the republicans that the
message of Eamon de Valera to the
Pope, denying allegiance to King
George, was nothing short of an in.
suit. The British delegates found the
discussion of peace extremely diff
cult', they said, under the circum
stances.
The British are at loss to under
stand why De Valera saw fit to inter
vene at this juncture unless his note
indicated the existence of wide gulf
between the peace delegations in Lon
don. After brief session, in which
the violations of the truce were con
sidered, the conference to-day adj
journed until Monday.
Negotiations Near Breaking Point
LONDON. Oct. 81 (By The Associ-
ated Press). The negotiations be-
tween British and Irish leaders to-day
barely escaped being definitely broken
off, and for time it seemed possible
that the Sim Fein delegates would
return to Dublin tonight, it was
learned after to-day's adjournment
was taken. The Irish delegates still
were .apprehensive this afternoon that
the session scheduled for Monday
might be the last. .a~
No progress. at all was made at to-
not
nation of events bringing about what
practically amounted to an impasse.
The. government delegates, according
to Sinn Fein sources, took violent ex-
ception TO Eamon de Valera's mes
sage to the Pope, and this, with other
subjects, including that Of Ulster.
which were. down for discussion, left
the negotiations hanging by a mere
string. N'.'t
!, The Dali delegates were very much
this afternoon, for there
r. Sas IIttle doYlbt rs that the delegation
was anxious To reach some sort Of an
agreement. One of the Irish dele
gates said gloonlily:
The ship is barely afoat.'
! There are no plans for any meet
ings between members of the two dele
cations over the week end. Conse-
quentiy the situation must hang fire.
it was understood, until Mondays ses-
sion. which will be faced with the
decision Of whether it is to be "peace
or war"
Valera's Motives Discussed
The Central News this evening is
sued statement concerning the situa-
tion which is regarded in some quar-
ters as possibly rejecting the British
governments view. Tho statement
says:
IF Mr.. de Valera is counting on the
Premler's anxiety to attend the Wash
lngton conference as factor leading
the government to be more amenable to
pressure he is making profound mis-
The Premier is not COM
mitted irrevocably to the journey to
Washington, and the idea that he
might be induced to lead a movement
Of surrender to the Sim Fein in order
that he may attend the Washington
conference is secuted as utterly alb
surd
Mr.. de Valera's message to the Pope
is regarded as an attempt to force
peace, but there is danger of rupture
in the conference on Monday unless
the Sim Fein delegates in London dis
own the action of Mr.. de Valera and
tHc extremists LOT WnOm ne speaks. In
that case a general election would be
precipitated to enable the govern
ment to secure new mandate to take
whatever course toward Ireland is ne
cessitated by new circumstances
Irish Delegates Not Consulted
Besides Ulster, the conference TODAY
had reached the questions of the army
and navy, which are critical ones, but
the government delegates took occa-
sion to mention Mr.. de Valera's let
ter, which admittedly had embarrassed
the proceedings. There was said to be
reason to believe that the letter was
written without consultation with the
Irish delegates in London. AS state
ment of principle the Dali delegates
indorse it, but, they did not find it
helpful. They had expected that by
the end of next week the issue raised
by the letter would have been clari-
fled.
The Sim Fein delegates defended
the letter by the argument that when
the King, who to them means the Brit
ish government, writes to the Pope
preSupposing lreland's duty of allegi-
ance to it, it was necessary to make it
fNnnt diana