The Holbrook news., 1921-07-22
Shuts Efforts Bring Renewed Hope of Settlement of
 the Irish Trouble.
MAY QUIT "REPUBuG" IDEA
De Valera and Others Show DIsposi- tion to YleId-No Improvement In Near Eastern Mess-Gernany
 Expects Coup d'Etat-
 Tariff Fight Is On.
By EDWARD w. PACKARD.

The entry of Jan Christian Shuts Into the peace negotiations changed the Irish situation over night. The South African premier is regarded as one of the most astute statesmen in the world, and apparently Lloyd George has done well in enlisting his assistance. It now appears likely that peaceful settlement of the Irish trouble will be reached before long.
 Optimistic persons were not dis mayed by De Valera's tentative refusal to attend the meeting in London pro posed by Lloyd George and Sir James Craig's refusal to confer with the Sim Feiners and south Ireland unionists in Dublin. The latter conference was begun without representatives of Ul- ster, and an attempt was made to reconcile the positions of the Sim Fein and the unionists. Then Gen. eral Shuts slipped across to Dublin. gave the leaders there a heart-to-heart talk, and hurried back to London to report to the English authorities. What he told them gave rise to the most cheerful of predictions.
 Though no official statements have been Issued, 1t appears that this is how matters now stand: The British government is willing to grant to Ire land the fullest autonomy, patterned after that enjoyed by South Africa Ulster to be considered still a part of the dominion but having an autonO- nous government of its own, such as that of Natal "President" De Valera, Arthur Griffith, founder of Sim Fein; Michael Collins and other republican leaders are now willing that Ireland shall remain a part of the British em- pire-though they prefer the term British commonwealth of nations provided their right of secession is recognized. Other prominent Sim Feiners, comprising the intellectuals and doctrinaires insist Prime Minister Lloyd George has not yet sufficiently recognized the essential unity of Ire land and its right to self-determina- ton. All the Sim Feiners assert that Ulster must accept her autonomy from the supreme Irish parliament in Dub lin. The task that remains Is to recon cile these views and bring the Ulster
 
 agreement with the compromise plan. That this can be done is the expressed opinion of some of the chief figures In the negotiations.
 Says General Shuts: q think, am hopeful, I trust, that the question will be solved and that thereby the British empire will be freed from the imputa- ton that in this ancient part of the United Kingdom there still exists viO- lation of the fundamental principles upon which the empire rests. l say that the problem is soluble because I have seen it solved In my own coun- try under circumstances less embit- tered than in Ireland but certainly of a very difficult character, too"
 De Valera, in his first authorized statement since Lloyd Georges invi- tation. says: "We trust that the Brit Ish prime minister's letter may prove to be the first step toward submitting a civilized basis of right and reason for that of barbaric violence in the arbitration of the question at issue between Ireland and Great Britain.
 "Should the conference now fnitiat- ed lead to an ultimate understanding and lasting peace between the peoples of these two islands, which have been In a state of war, or suspended war Tor more than seven and a half cen Huries, 1t will set worthy Christian precedent for the entire world.
 British prestige will be restored young Ireland will live in history as