The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-27
DE VALERA TO
ACCEPT OFFER
SAY REPORTS
President of Irish Republic
to go to London for Con-
ference on Request OF
Lloyd George.
INVITATION STARTLEs
CBy Associated Press)

LONDON, June az Belief that
Eamon de Valera, president of the
Irish republic" will accept Premier
Lloyd Georges invitation TO come to
London for conference with the gov
ernment and Premier Craig of Ulster.
designed to bring about a settlement
of the Irish problem, is expressed in
the majority of reports reaching this
city from Dublin.
All reports agree that Lloyd Georges
invitation caused a profound sensa-
tion in Dublin and that the question
whether De Valera would accept was
the subject of universal speculation.
Sources predicting that DR.. Valera
will accept are generally agreed that
he probably will attach sharp condi-
tions to his acceptance, one being that
more binding guarantees than were
contained in Lloyd Georges letter
must be given regarding the safe con-
duct of certain of his colleagues whom
De Valera may wish to have accom-
pany him. This applies especially to
Michael Collins, former commander-in-
chief of the Irish republican army and
Richard Mulcahy, who frequently has
been referred to in England as an
organizer or aSSaSSlnaUonS.
Point Out Wording.
1t is stated in some quarters that
De Valera would not go to London
without these two men, while il also
was predicted that he would insist
upon release of other men now intern
ed or imprisoned in order that they
might accompany him.
1t was pointed out that the wording
of the premier's letter would make il
impossible for him to refuse such a
demand. This was considered TO con-
stitute a remarkable and significant
change in the attitude of the British
premier, who earlier in the year had
except certain Sim Feiners from
those whom he would be willing to
receive as negitiators. The men ex-
cepted had been denounced in the
house of commons as murderers
In the event that DeValera refuses
| the premiers invitation, il is generally
believed that the government will
make energetic preparations for a Wig
orous campaign to suppress Sim Fein
activities in the west and south
Troops which could be used for the
purpose are constantly arriving in Ire.
land.
Needs British Help
In some sources it is predicted that
the services of British soldiers may be
needed even if DeValera consents to
negotiate, as it is held that he will be
| unable to stop the activities of Sim
Fein riflemen without British help
! Moderate Sim Feiners are represent.
| ed as being extremely anxious that De
| Valera accept Premier Lloyd George {
| invitation. -. ..e=
! 1t is said that they can see no possi-
! bllity OF ending the conflict under
| present conditions and that they fear
terrible results if an intensified mill.
/ tary campaign is begun as a result OF
| rejection of Lloyd Georges overtrrer.
/ An authority anonymously quoted by
| the Danly Mail dispatches from Dup-
! lin declared that peace would be pos
| sible if the British government agreed
| TO permit Ireland to govern herself.
excluding only matters pertaining TO
| foreign relations, the army, navy and
| other strategetical considerations, and
if the six northern counties were
granted by the rest of Ireland such
measures of government as DeVal-
era has indicated his willingness to
concede, within the limits of an au.
tonomous Ireland. --
! Such settlement, however, this au-
| thority pointed out, would involve
abandonment of the demand for com.
plete independence, and might for that
reason be expudiated by the ex,
| tremists.
BELFAST, June 27-In a message
telegraphed here from Paris, where
he is acting for Irish republican in
terests, Sean O'Ceallaigh. member OF
the Irish republican government, SAYS
Mr.. Lloyd Georges invitation to ex
plore the possibilities of a settlement
if independence is not excluded, will
undoubtedly receive the earnest con.
| sideration of President De Valera and
the Irish cabinet"
The unionist newspaper, Northern
Whig, takes exception to Premier
Lloyd Georges attempt to draw VI
ster into a conference with the Sinr
Fein, declaring Lloyd George is not
treating Sir James Craig, the Ulster
premier, fairly in asking him to meet
with Eamonn De Valera
What is Ulster to do with De Va
lera's absurd claim that he has SCI
up a republic in the country" tht
PAPER demands.
The News Letter says: I'VE are
disclosing no secrets when We SAY
that this invitation for a conference
is a sequel to the bringing into bein,
of the northern parliament The Sinr
Fein has to face the fact and reckon
with it. 1t can only do that in one O
two ways, by aba ndoning the demand
for a republic and agreeing to the es
, tablishment of a southern parliament
under the government of Ireland act
. or by continuing its present insane
campaign to its own destruction b,
| force"
| LONDON, June 27.-In the event O
Eamonn de Valera accepting Mr.
Lloyd Georges invitation to visit Lon
. don for a peace conference it Is al
together probably that the Dominion
prime minister. now in London, wi:
be invited by the British prime minis
ter to participate in the negotiations
If Mr.. de Valera accepts the invita-