Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-07-11
IRISH PARLEY DATE
LEFT TO De VALERA
Lloyd George Willing to
Meet De Valera Any Day
This Week
FAVORABLE ASPECTS
Ulster Minister Says Conference Must
Keep Hands Off Orangemen-Ele-
ments Hostile to Peace

London, July II. The British
Prime Minister. Mr.. Lloyo George,
and the Irish Republican, leader, Ea-
monn de Valera, probably will meet
SOME day this week to discuss ba-
sis for a general conference on an
Irish settlement.
Mr.. Lloyd George has asked Mr..
colleagues when you w!sh to bring
de Valera to name the day, and has
added further invitation TO "any
colleagues whom you wish to bring
With YOU" His telegram reads:
81 have received your letter of ar
ceptance and shall be happy to see
you and any colleagues when you
wish 10 bring with you 1t Downing
street any day this week. Please
wire the date of your arrival n
London"
Ireland's struggle for freedom
has been a long hista.J of baffied
hopes; otherwise the present sltua-
ton would be full of profnise for
final peaceful settlement. But while
past history does not afford food
for over confidence--a point empha-
sized in the way of warning by Mr..
de Valera himself in manifesto to
the Irish people-therc are some
aspects which differ entirely from
any previous peace effort.
First. The whole British nation
now is practically willing to grant
Ireland dominion status, if Ireland is
willing to drop the denanH for re-
public.
Second. The DominioI prcmiers
now in London are ready 20 support.
according to al! indications, 1reland's
claim for dominion states with fiscal
autonomy and voice i foreign at
fairs, the latter being an important
aspiration of the dominicns them
selves. Such help from the outside
as that afforded by statesman of
the caEbre of General Smuts, the
South African Premier. "::ho admit
tedly, has much Influence over the
Government policy, is IN asset which
Ierland has never before enjoyed.
Third. This is the frs! time that
Mr.. Lloyd George ii any peace
ny gotiations has imposed no condi-
tions whatever.
Finally, a truce has bcer. arranged
for an! indefinite peri I'd. No date
mas been fixed or hint # any notice
required TO denounce il The whole
ST rounding cir umstarces in this
latest peace effort would seem to
prove that both sides are deeply ir
earnest in desiring success.
On the other side Of the picture
is the attitude CT the extremists
among both Sim Feiners and
Orangmen, and doubt are expires
sed as to how far they csn be con-
trolled BY the leaders. There is
also what has up to the rresent been
the irreconcilable attitude Of Mr..
de Valera and his colleagues
against the partition of ireland and
the apparently equal determination
in Ulster that tre present status of
teh six counties under the Home
Rule act shall not be disturbed.
Ulster is smarting under the sat
ions trade boycott "xercisei "
Southern Ireland, bu. '.opes arc
still! high that this and -ther li;i:-
crlties will be smoothed cut once the
conference is in being.
Belfast, July II. The Lloyd
Grtrge De Valera c"rt"r"rcc must
n: tain a poii:y Of "hards Off l.
regard to the Orangme,. declared
Sohn Gordon, of the Ulster minis
try, III a speech at Largen county
Antrim. today. ...
Mr.. Lloyd George mi:;::;s be pre-.
pared to enter into conf .r.nccs- with
De Valera to settle afa : in Ire.
land, said Nj. Gordon, nut OrlIg"
mcn had settled the affs'r; nf t!,s.
Ter, and to Messrs. I!"vi G.,:..e
and De Valera they SAL han:
off" " ,a iii