Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-16
PRESS OF BRITAIN
BACKS UP PREMIER

London, Sept. 16.-(By A. P. 1.-The
British press expresses surprise and
disappointment at the developments in
the Irish situation, but supports the
action of the Prime Minister.
The Daily Chronicle saws Lloyd
George had the empire behind him in
the making Of his offer to the Sim Fein
TO confer within the circle of the EN-
pire and that he will have it no less in
his reply to calling off the proposed
conference. The newspaper asserts that
a majority of the Dali Eireann threat
EN- to bring the truce to an end and
cast the country back into the throes
of hateful conflict" but it wonders if
the Irish people will remain passive
and acquiescent while the cup which
they longed for and which is within
their grasp is dashed from their lips by
a gesture Of infatuation."
The Daily Chronicle asks why the
Sinn Fein leaders do not take a plebis-
cite for authority to accept the British
offer IL their election platform does not
give them this authority.
The Daily Graphic says that Eamon
de Valera's misguided action" will be
received by the whole British isles with
disinay, and believes that it will cause
CONSERVATION in Ireland.
ireland is land of surprises, )"
continues the Graphic, "and we NAV
yet hope that De Valera and his col
leagues will have sense enough to see
that their stiff necked attitude toward
the British Government is condemned
by the whole world outside of Sim
fein Ireland and is the road to utter
ruin"
In an editorial the Manchester Guard.
ian says the important thing to recog-
nize Is that a breakdown and not a
berak- off has occurred in the Irish
negotiations. The newspaper expresses
regret that Lloyd George adopted Il
venerable formula" and did not nut
'the most favorable construction" on
De Valera's words.
The Sim Fein position was stated
without Its acceptance being asked "
the newspaper asserts, "but that need
not have been taken as bar to the
conference. 1t Is impossible for the
moment TO admit claim which would
compel the treatment Of Irishmen as
aliens, but the conference would be for
much more practical 'purpOse-to dis
cover whether we can reconcile the full
est demands of practical liberty for
Ireland with the status Of a British
dominion, closely examined and clearly
defined.
1T would be lamentable IL on point
of form and not Of substance the on.
portunity for an agreement should be
lost"
Dublin, Sept. 16.-(By A. PJ-
Prime Minister Lloyd George is blamed
by the Freeman's Journal for the can
collation. of the proposed Inverness con,
ference.
'.Mr. Lloyd George the newspaper
declares, made an extrayagant mis-.
construction in canceing the confer
tnce on the ground that TO confer on the
terms Of De Nalera's note would be TO
recognize Ireland as an independent
rspublic, free to dissociate herself from
the empire. IL should be remembered
that ireland, many years ago, was n
sovereign state within the empire. and
reclaiming that sovereignty does not mes.
cssarily imply dissertation and sever
nnce.
'"fhe British and Irish peoples will
refuse to accept this as the end Of ef-
forts toward peace. Letter writing has
continued too long. The negotiators
long ago should have met at the confer
ence table and got busy framing the
pence terms, Instead Of discussing thco.