Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-08
Reply to De Valera

inverness, Scotlano, sept. l-(By
the Associated Press)-A decision
which may mean peace or war with
Ireland was taken by the British
cabinet at an all important meeting
here today. The governments re-
ply to cannon de Valera. the Irish
republican leader, Immediately APP
proved by the ministers had been
dispatched to Dublin through the in
termediary of Robert c. Barton, the
Sim Fein courier who carried the
I Dali Eireann's message to Premier
Lloyd George and who was brought
into the council chamber while the
| council was in session.
| The nature of the governments
decision has not been made known,
but it is not necessary to await pub
lication of the reply tomorrow to
realize that an important step for
ward has been taken.
Directly after the ministers had
| reached their decision came the an
nouncement that a committee con-
sisting of the ministers now in SCOT
land has been appointed with full
powers to deal with the situation the
moment Mr. De Valera's further
answer arrives.
The committee comprises the
premier, Austen Chamberlain, Earl
Curzon, Sir Laming Worthington-
! Evans, Winston Spencer Churchill,
Edward Short, Robert Munro, Lord
| Birkenhead. Sir Hamar Greenwood
and Sir Robert Stevenson Horne.
I This is taken to mean that the
! government has appointed the COM
mittee of ministers TO meet the Irish
plenipoentiaries should Mr.. De Va
era be ready to proceed on that
course. 1t is commended that if in
| the opinion of the cabinet rupture
of the negotiations was likely to
follow today's decision it would
hardly be necessary to appoint a
cabinet committee to deal with the
! situation.
Naturally, the possibility that the
cabinet may have decided to impose
a time limit for negotiations to start
! is not precluded. In this connection
1t is recalled that unofficial intima-
tons have been given from Dublin
of the names of the men who would
/
tiaries, including Arthur Griffith.
In courtesy to Mr. De Valera the
cabinets reply will not be made pub
! lie until sufficient time has elapsed
for its delivery. 1t is understood,
however, that further opportunity has
been afforded the Republican leader
to consider his position carefully. and
that nothing has been done in any
sense inimtcal to peace and good will,
should the more moderate counsels
prevail.
One of die features of the day was
the premier's conference with the
king at Aloy Hall, which lies about
IL miles from lyerness. This lasted
fully two hours, and the Kings in
tense interest in the negotiations is
, considered most significant sign
looking to conc.lation
| Viscount Fftzalan, viceroy of Ire
land, and General Sir Nevil Macready,
/ commander of the troops in Ireland,
not being cabinet ministers, were not
present in the actual council, which
held both morning and afternoon ses-
sions, but with General Tudor and
/ other experts were in attendance to
render any advice necessary.
Robert c. Barton, the Sim Fein
emissary, had arrived at Inverness
/ overnight and was waiting at a hotel
for the reply when summoned. He is
now on his way to Dublin Premier
Lloyd George will return to Gairloch
tomorrow morning