Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-09-24
DOOR IS NOT ENTIRELY CLOSED
Suppression OF Dali IIiroann Would in
All Likelihood Follow Breach.

London. Sept. 15.-Thc arrange
mcnts for the proposed Irish pence
conference are cancelled but the nes1
tiations still are not ruptured. That
in brief, Is the story of today's unoN-
peoted developments.
Eamonn de Valera, the Irish RepuD
liean leader, having re-afIirmed his
claim to enter the conference as tn.
representative Of an independent sou
oreign state, Premier Lloyd George
declares that such admission is i'm
possible. Flo announces the canco.1a
ton OF the arrangements for q confer
ence and the necessity OF his consult
ing his colleagues On tho subject.
Tire Premier is careful not to close
the door to possible resumption Of
the negotiations. On tho contrary, he
gives De Valera and his supporters
the amplest timo and opportunity TO
reconsider their position; he descr b.
es himself even. rs "laid up at Ga;r
Loeb nccessitating a few days de-
lay although up to the present. nothing
has been heard in London Of any indis
position on the part Of Lloyd George
Declaring that there was but one
answer to n claim which would be
equivalent to Great Britain's &C
knowlcdging Ireland's right to negoti-
ate treaty Of closer association with
some other foreign power" he mildly
rePronches the Irish people for taking
NE single step to meet the generous nd
vanees Of the British government.
LLOYD GEORGE STILL HOPEFUL
The whole tone of the letter, in fact
reveals that the Premier still retains
lrope OF some moro favorable develop
ment. Incidentally the Premiers let
ter clears up tho mystifying events of
The last FEW days, showing that De
Valera's reply was taken by McGrath
and Boland to Garlocll but that tho
Premier tried unsu ccessfully to per
Huade modification Of it's tenor and
offered to regard It as not having bee,
delivered.
The fact that Do Valera and his col
leagues failed to take advantage of
this offer is considered an averse fac
tor and lends serious aspect to the
situation.
The prospect 10 that there will be
no move from either sida for a few
days. It is noteworthy that In the iii.
al exchanges the traditional diplomat
fs methods Of sending notes ny courier
were dropped in favor Of the more ex
renditious telegraph lines.
TEXT oP PREsrHR's RRpLY
TAs text OF Lloyd Georges reply
which was telegrapked tonight says
II Informed your emissaries who
aame to nae here Tuesday that reiter.
atioa Of your claim to NEGOTIATE with
His Ahjqsty's government as the rep.
resoatative OF an independent and SOY
sreten state would make a conference
between Us impossible"
They brought nae a letter from Won
In which you specifically reaf1r1n chat
claim stating that your nation has
formally declared its Independence
and recognizes Itself as q sovereign
state, and 1t Is, you added 'as represa en-
tatives OF that state and as Its chosen
guardians that we have an authority
Or eower to act ON behalf Of our peo.
pie"
I asked them TO warn you of the
very Ferious effect Of such a para
graph and offered ITO regard the letter
rs not delivered to mo In order that
you might haveI TIME to reconsider it.
Despite this intimation you have now
published the letter in its original
form. I must accordingly cancel the
arrangements for the conference next
week at Inverness and must consult
any colleagues on, the course of action
this new situation neceasitates. I will
communicate this to you as soon as
possible, but. as / am for the momen,
laid up here. few days delay Is in.
oVitabie. Meanwhile, must make 1t
absolutely clear that His Majesty q
government can not reconsider its no.
sttton which have stated to you.
:: we accepted a conference with
your delegates on the formal state.
ment Of the claim which you have re
affirmed. 1t would constitute an Off.
efal recognition by His Majesty's gov
ernment OF the severances Of ireland
from the empire and of its existence
as an independently republic.
1t would moreover entitle YOU to
declare. rs of right acknowledged by
u.s. That IN preference to associate with
the British empire you would pursue
closer association by a treaty with
some other foreign power. There Is
only one answer possible to such q
eaaim as that.
Tho great concessions which His
MaJesty's government made to the
feeling OF your people in order to sc
cure lasting settlement deserved In
my opinion some more genrous re
SPONGE but 80 far every advance has
been made by u.s.,
On your part, you have not come
TO meet, us by a single step, but have
merely reiterated in phrases of an
phatic challenge the letter and spil Il
Of unlr ORIGINAL claim