The New York herald., 1921-09-19
PREMIER HOLDS OFF
TILL Irish RENOUNCE
SOVEREIGNTY CLAIM
Lloyd Georges Note Puts
Negotiations Back in the
Deadlock Status of
Friday.
MOVE UP TO DE VALERA
Has Chance to Withdraw
From Position and Act
Only as Spokesman
for South.
Ills STAND CALLED NOVEL
British Leader Says He Cannot
Recall Any Independence
Plea in Meetings
Last July.
Ills STAND CALLED NOVEL
fy The Associated Press.

By Tie Associated Press.
LONDON, Sept. 1S.-Premier Lloyd
George to-day added another to the
brisk fire OF kilograms between Dub
lin and Gairloch, leaving Eamon de
Valera's search for formula ena
bling him to accept the invitation to
a conference still unsatished. The
position on the Irish question is vir
tually the same as on Friday.
In his message the Prime Minister
remains firm in refusing to meet the
Irish delegates as representing an
independent and sovereign State. He
declares that unless that section OF
MIR. de Yalera's recent letter insisting
on the delegates acting as representa-.
tives of an independent Ireland was
withdrawn conference between the
members OF the British Cabinet and
the Sim Fein plenipotentiaries would
be impossible.
notwithstanding the firm tone OF
Mr.. Lloyd Georges telegram, 1t is
interpreted as displaying solicitude
to furnish Mr.. de Valera a favorable
opening FOR abandoning his present
attitude.
Holds Claims Are Unmodiaed.
Mir. Lloyd Georges note says:
II have received your telegram
OF last night and observe IL does
not modify the claim that your
delegates should meet US as repre-
sentatives of a sovereign and in.
dependent State.
You made no such condition in
advance when you came to see me
In July. l invited you then to
meet me, in the words Of my let
ter. as the chosen leader of the
great majority in southern Ire
land. and YOU accepted that in
vitation.
From the very outset OF our con-
versations ! told you that we
looked to Ireland to own allie
glance to the throne and to make
her future as a member of the
British Commonwealth. That was
the basis of our proposals, and
we cannot alter It.
THE status you now claim in
advance for your delegates is in
effect reputation OF that basis.
an prepared 10 meet your
delegates. as I met you in July,
in the capacity Of the chosen
spokesmen for your people to dis
cuss the association OF Ireland
with the British Commonwealth.
My colleagues and cannot
meet them as representatives OF
sovereign and independent State
without disloyalty on our part to
the throne and empire. I must,
therefore, repeat that unless the
second paragraph OF your letter of
the 12th is withdrawn confer
ence between us is impossible"
Paragraph In Discussion.
['rhe second paragraph OF Mr.. de Va
lcra's letter OF September IL. 20 which
Mr.. Lloyd George alludes. IL as follows
.'In this Hnal note we deem Il our
duty to resffirm that our position is and
can only be as We have defined it
throughout this correspondence. Our "a
lion has formally declared It's independ-
cnce and recognizes itself as sovereign
state. II is only as representatives of
that state and as its chosen guardians
that We have authority or power to act
on behalf of our people. As regards the
principle of government by consent %
taa governed. In the very nature Of
things ~ must be the basis o. any
agreement that will achieve the purpose
we have at heart--that Is. the tlnal rec
oncilation of our nation with yours.
We have suggested no Interpretation OF
that principle, save its everyday inter-
rretauon. the sense. for example. n
which II was understood by the plain
men and women OF the world, yhen on
January 5, 1918. you said
Tho settlement OF Europe must be
based on such grounds OF reason and
justice as viii give some promise of
stability. Therefore K Is that wo feel
that government with the consent OF the
governed must be the basis OF any ter
ritoriai settlement IA this var
Any Settlement Favored.
Although Mr. Lloyd Georges new noe
Iuts serious contingency before the
public, London has not given up hore
u settlement. This was strongly re-
hsctod In almost every London Sunday
newspaper. In which. despite calls TO Mr..
Lloyd George TO stand firrn." there was
universal desire for a settlement
alnloat any settlement at any prico The
sanle also Is ifNis In Ireland, where even
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