The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-06-27

London, June 27.-Beief that
Eamonn 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 u
ster, designed to bring about a settle
ment OF the Irish problem, is ex-
pressed in the majority reports reach
ing this city from Dublin.
All reports agree that Lloyd
Georges invitation caused profound
sensation in Dublin and that the ques-
tion whether de Valera would accept
was the subject of universal specula.
ton
Sources predicting that de Valera
would accept regency agreed that he
will probably attach sharp conditions
to his acceptance, one being that more
binding guarantees than were con-
tanned in Lloyd Georges letter must
be given regarding the safe conduct
OF certain of his colleagues whom de
Valera may wish to have accompany
him. This applies especially to Mich
ael Collins, former commander in
chief of the Irish republican army,
and Richard Mulchay who frequently
has been referred to in England as
an Organizer of assassinatiops. "
1t is stated in some quarters that
de Valera would not go to London
without those two men, while it was
also predicted that he would insist
upon the release of ether nlen. low
interned or imprisoned, in order that
they might accompany him.
Changed Attitude Seen
1t was pointed out that the wording
of the premiers letter would make it
impossible for him to refuse such
demand. 1t was considered to con-
stitute remarkable and significant
change in the attitude Of the British
premier, who earlier in the year has
excepted certain Sim Feiners from
those whom he would be willing to
receive as negotiators The men ex-
cepted had been denounced in the
House of, Commons as murderers.
In the event that de Valera re-
fuses the premier's invitation, it is
believed that the government will
make energetic preparations for
vigorous campaign TO suppress Sim
Fein activities in the west and south.
Troops which could be used for this
purpose are constantly arriving in
England. From some sources it is
predicted that the services of the
British may be needed, even if de
Valera consents to negotiate as it is
held that he viii be unable to stop the
activities of Sim Fein rihemen with
out British help.
Moderate Sim Feiners are reported
as being extremely anxious that de
Valera accept Premier Lloyd Georges
invitation. 1t is said that they can
see no possibility of ending the con-
f1ict under the present conditions
and that they fear terrible results if
an intensified military campaign is
begun as result of rejection of Lloyd
Georges overtures.
An authority anonymously quoted
quoted by the Daily Mail in dispatches
from Dublin, said peace would be pos
sibe if the British government agreed
to permit Ireland to govern herself,
excluding only matters pertaining to
foreign relations, the army, navy and
other strategical considerations and
if the six northern counties were
granted by the rest of Ireland such
! measures of self government as de
Valera has indicated his willingness to
concede, within the limits of an auton-
omous Ireland. Such settlement,
however, this authority pointed out,
would involve abandonment of the de-
mand for complete independence and
might, for that reason, be repudiated
by the extremists.