Evening star., 1921-06-27
Irish Chief Likely to Make
Sharp Conditions if He
Meets Lloyd George.
REPORTS FROM DUBLIN
INDICATE ACCEPTANCE
Failure to Agree to Conference May
Be Followed by New Vigor
in Irish Campaign. 49,.
By the Associated Press,

LONDON, June 27.-Belief that
Eamon de Valera, president Of the
Irish republic" will accept Premier
Lloyd Georges invitation to come to
London for a conference with the
government and, Premier Craig of
Ulster. designed to bring about a
settlement of the Irish problem. is
expressed in the majority OF reports
reaching this city from Dublin.
All reports agree that Lloyd
Georges invitation caused a pro-
round sensation in Dublin and that
the question whether de Valera would
accept was the subject of universal
speculation.
Expect Shnrp Conditions.
Sources predicting that de Valera
VIII accept are generally agreed that
ne probably will attach sharp con-
ditions to his acceptance. one being
that more binding guarantees than
were contained in Lloyd GeorGe's
letter must be given regarding the
sa1e conduct of certain of his COL
leagues whom de Valera may wish
70 nave accompany him. This ap-
plies especially to Michael Collins,
former commander-in-chief Of the
irish republican army and Richard
Mulcahy. who frequently has been
referred to in England as an organ
1t is stated in some quarters that do
valera would not go to London with
out these two men. while il also was
predicted that he would insist upon
reiease Of other men now interned or
imprisoned In order that they might
accompany him.
II was pointed out that the wording
OF the premier's letter would make il
impossible for him to refuse such a
demand. This was considered to con-
sthute remarkable and significant
chanse in the attitude of the British
pIehier, who earlier in the year has
excepted certain Sim Feiners from
those whom he would be willing to
receive as negotiators. The men ex-
cepted had been denounced in the
mouse Of commons as murderers.
In the event that de Valera refuses
the premier's invitation, it is generally
believed that the government will
make energetic preparations for a
vigorous campaign to suppress Sim
Fein activities in the west and south
Troops which could be used for this
purpose are constantly arriving in
Ireland. In some sources, il is pre-
dicted that the services of British
troops may be needed even II de
valera consents to negotiate, as ii is
held that he win be unable to stop the
out British help.
Moderate Sim Feiners are represent
ed as being extremely anxious that
de Valera accept Premier Lloyd
Georges invitation. 1t is said that
they can see no possibility of ending
the conflict under present conditions
and that they fear terrible results IL
an intensified military campaign is be-
gun as a result of rejection of Lloyd
Georges overtures.
An authority ANONYMOUSLY quoted
by the Daily Mail in dispatches from
Dublin declared that peace would be
possible if the British government
agreed to permit Ireland to govern
herself. excluding only matters per-
tanning to foreign relations. the
army. navy and other strategical con-
siderationS, and IL the six northern
counties were granted by the rest OF
Ireland such measures of seif-govern-
ment as de Valera has indicated his
willingness to concede within the linn
its of an autonomous Ireland. Such a
! settlement, however. this authority
pointed out. would involve abandon
.ment of the demand for complete in
dependence and might for that rea-
son be repudiated by the extremists.
Comment by Irish.
BELFAST. June 2I.-1n a message
he is acting for Irish republican in
terests. Sean O'Ceallaigh. member OF
the Irish republican parliament. says:
Mr.. Lloyd Georges invitation to
explore the possibilities Of settle
ment, IL independence is not excluded.
will undoubtedly receive the earnest
consideration of President de Valera
and the Irish cabinet"
The unionist newspaper. Northern
Wing, takes exception to Premier
Lloyd Georges attempt to draw
Ulster into a conference with the Sim
L>a;r 10 M
treating Sir James Craig. the Ulster
premier, fairly in asking him to meet
with Eamon de Valera.
What is Ulster to do with de Va
lera's absurd claim that he has set up
a republic in the country?' the paper
demands.
The News Letter says: We are dis
closing no secrets when we shy that
this invitation for a conference is q
sequel to the bringing into being of
the northern parliament. The Sinn
Fein has to face that fact and reckon
with it. 1t can only do that in one
of two wayS-by abandoning the de-
mand for a republic, and agreeing to
the. esta blishment of a southern par
lament under the government Of Ire
land act. or by continuing it's present
insane campaign to its own destruc-
tton by force"
Clean Of Hope. Says. Cardinal.
Cardinal Logue told an interviewer
today that he would regard any
overtures from Mr.. Lloyd George
with extreme caution and resc--.".
He did not believe and could at
see. he said. how a mere personal
meeting between Eamon de Valera
a nd Sir James Craig could do much.
He regarded the situation, he de-
clared, however, not without a CLEAN
of hope, because the British min
istry must be directly and completely
involved by the proposal ;.
The primate strongly advocated
the attendance at, the conference OF
Arthur Grifith, whose views. he
thought, would be of great value In
the proposed negotiations.
The Nationalist Irish News says
that the idea of inviting de Valera
and Premier Craig to a conference At
Inndon did not occur to Lloyd George
and his colleagues until "they. had
made King George the agent and tn-
strument Of their policy Of destruc-
Hfter pointing out that full fiscal
freedom must be the basis of any ne
rotiations for a national settlement,
the paper says,,"It remains to be seen
whether Lloyd George is acting be-
cause Of a spasmodic pang OF honesty
or is merely developing another strz-
tegic maneuver for putting five e-sixths
of the Irish nation in wrong, before
the eyes Of the world"
The editorial concludes with an ex-
preston Of the hope that de Valera
-TCo01{nned IN Pare 4 Column 81