The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-15
Claim Is Made That Door
Is Still Left Open for
Further Negotiate n S
To Bring About Per
manent Peace, But In
dependence Will Not
Be Entertained Under
Any Circumstances

London, Aug. 15.-England today
faced crucial period in the negotia-
tions looking to the establishment OF
peace in Ireland. The action of the
British government yesterday in max
ing public letters exchanged between
Prime Minister Lloyd George and
Eamonn de Valera. irish republican
leader, showed the people what a vir-
tTal deadlock existed, and although
the door was declared to have been
left open for further parleys, it was
apparent that the situation was one
Of considerable gravity.
Reports from Dublin which might
indicate what the Irish republicans
would do to counter the unexpected
move of the government in giving the
correspondence of the press. were
anxiously awaited 1t appeared the
rext step should be made in that city,
as Mr. Lloyd George literally laid
his cards on the table yesterday" and
it seemed that Mr.. de Valera and his
colleagues must meet the situation
thus created.
Whether they would issue a state.
ment today, or would wait until the
opening OF the Irish republican par
lament, tomorrow, was uncertain.
The purpose of the precipitate of the
action of the government in making
public the British proposals and the
demands of the Irish republicans had
not been disclosed, hut ii would ap-
pear that the prime minister sought to
lay the Irish problem before the coun-
try on the eve Of the meeting of the
Dali iCireann
The government terms were, in
brief, as follows:
Dominion status Tor Ireland, with
complete autonomy in financial mat
ters, but without tariff or trade re-
strietions between the islands. Ire
land would maintain defense forces
and police but her territorial forces
would be kept within reasonable
limits.
Ireland would maintain her own
postal system, but would grant Eng
land air defense and communication
facilities. ireland would have con
troll Of her own educational and in
Gustrial affairs. but the British navy
would maintain its hold on the seas
around the island A share of the
United Kingdoms debt would be as
sumed by Ireland the exact amount
to be fixed by arbitration.
Mr.. de Valera in reply, demanded
full independence for Ireland and
suggested treaty of association with
the British commonwealth group.
Treaties regarding trade and limita-
ton of armaments were urged by the
( Irish republican chieftain, together
with mutual agreements as to air,
railway and other communication.
The Ulster problem would be left to
the Irish themselves for solution, Mr..
de Valera declaring that the employ
ment of force was not contemplated. +"
The attitude of the Ulster govern
ment was made plain by the making
public at Belfast of a letter to Mr..
Lloyd George from Sir James Craig,
the Ulster premier. Sir James eX-
pressed the loyalty of his government
to the Empire and reiterated his
readiness to confer with Mr.. Lloyd
George and the Sim Fein as to some
means of settling the Irish contro-
versy, but declared he would not sup
port the Sim Fein in what he describ-
ed was "a move to coerce the gov
\ crnment to repudiate the Irish act
and "to press for wider powers Sir
James said he would not interfere in
any negotiations between the British
government and the Irish republicans,
but would stand ready to cooperate
on equal terms with southern Ireland
in carrying out any agreement they
reached.
Most of London's newspapers, in
their comment on the new develop
ment in the Irish situation, this morn
ring reflected the belief that the gov
ernment's proposal offered a generous
settlement of the controversy.
Little Surprise Felt
Belfast, Aug. 15.-Little surprise
was felt here at the tenor of the let
ter from Eamonn de Valera to Prime