The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-08

Dublin, July S.-(By the Associ-
ated Press. 1.-The conference De-
tween Irish republicans and south
ern Unionists called by Eamonn de
Valera, the republican leader, be-
gan in Dublin on July 4, was re-
Sumed here today.
The personnel of the conference
was the same as that of Monday
MIR. de Valera, Arthur Griffith,
founder of the Sim Fein, and four
of the southern Unionists, Earl Mid
dleton, Sir Maurice Dockrell, Sir
Robert Henry Woods and Andrew
Jameson.
COnferees Are Cheered.
Mr.. de Valera was the first TO ar
rive. He was loudly cheered, as
were all the other conferees on
their arrival, by the large crowd
which had gathered about the Man
sion House, where the conference
was held.
Lord Mayor O'Neill welcomed the
delegates who began their deliber-
ations Immediately.
As the conference proceeded the
crowd in the streets at intervals re-
cited the Rosary and the Litany and
Joined in prayers. An interesting
feature was the absence of both the
police and the military. Only two
policemen were in evidence, and the
crowd was regulated by volunteers
wearing small American flags in
their buttonholes.
Irish ballads were sung by boy
vocalists at intervals as the people
awaited news from the peace delib-
er:t ions, and at one point a pro-
cession was organized which re-
volved about the near neighbor-
hood.
At 1 o'clock this afternoon the
conferees emerged and the four
Unionists left. announcing that The
proceedings had been adjourned
until 4 p. m. The crowd again
loudly cheered as the conferees
left the Mansion house.
Mr. De Valera and Mr. Griffith re-
manned to luncheon with the lord
mayor.
London Waits AnxiOusly.
London, July 8.-Representatives
of the Sim Fein and the Unionists
of South Ireland met at Dublin to-
day to continue conversations
which, it was hoped, would develop
some basis for peace negotiations
which would end the era OF bond
shed that has prevailed in Ireland
for many months. Everybody i'm
terested in the settlement of the
Irish situation was anxiouslr
watching for news from Drblin,
IN
situation was viewed as giving lit
tie occasion for optimism.
This view was based largely on
the belief that Eamonn de Valera,
leader of the Sim Fein, adhered
unalterably to his demand for the
establishment of an Irish republic,
and that the British government,
as well as Ulster, took its stand On
the Irish act recently passed by
the British parliament.
aIrish Act- BObs Up.
1t was stated that Earl Middle
ton, South Irish UnioniSt leader,
who was in London to confer with
Prime Minister Lloyd George and
others who returned to Dublin last
night, had taken with him the un-
derstanding that any settlement
that might be reached must be in
harmony with the Irish act, in ac-
cordance with which the Belfast
parliament was created.
Whether, in the face of such an
attitude, Mr. de Valera would &C
cept the prime minister's invita-
ton to London was regarded in
many quarters as extremely doubt
full. Where the more hopeful view
was taken, however, it was be
lieved that Mr.. de Valera might
reply with a counter-proposal This,
according to information received
by the Associated Press from Bel
fast, might take the form of Mr.. de
Valera insisting that the govern
ment put its cards on the table"
before disclosing his own hand.