New-York tribune., 1921-11-24
Guaranty Against Undue
Subordination toDublin
Ready, if Lloyd George
Settlement Is Rejected
Premier TO Meet
Craig Tomorrow
North Won't Be Coerced,
He Promises; 18 Dead,
IS Hurt, Belfast Toll
From, The rrxoumc's Europeon Bureau

TToWt IHe 1rtOu1c'S EuFopedu bureau
Copyright. 1921, New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Nov. 23.--As last resort,
if Premier Lloyd George is unable to
reach settlement of the Irish prob
lem with the Ulstermen, the Sim Tein
would be prepared to make settle
ment with the government and after
ward settle with the -Ulstermen, it de-
veloped at a conference to-day between
the Premier, Viscount Birkenhead and
Austen Chamberlain, on the one side,
and Arthur Griffith and Michael Col
lins on the other. The meeting was
held In Downing Street, and was the
first between the government and the
Sim Feiners since Sir James Craig
the Ulster Premier, was brought into
negotiations with Lloyd George.
After the meeting Lloyd George
asked Sir James to postpone their con-
ference, scheduled for tomorrow, until
Friday, and it is expected that by then
Lloyd George will be able to offer the
Ulstermen concessions from the Sim
Fein.
To-day's conference was primarily to
discuss the new situation created by
listers refusal to join the All-Ireland
Parliament and to explore an alter
native solution, but the Irish repub-
licans also raised the question of the
situation in Belfast, where the o'clock
curfew law was imposed tonight.
Won't Amend Unity Demand
The Premier sought to induce the
SinN EQiporc fa IN o1+ ,ot,,
plan to the one already drafted, which
should be put up to Craig for considera-
tion, but they were firm in their insist
ence that the unity of Ireland must be
the basis of any settlement. The Sim
Felners, however, are ready to consider
the Ulstermen's practical objections to
such unity, and the discussion centered
about ways and means to avoid undue
subordination of the Northern Parlia-
ment to Dublin, especially in connec-
tion with finance.
After the meeting Lord Birkenhead
made q cautious reference to it in
the course of speech at the Aldwych
Club. "The door which excludes hope
is not definitely closcd,'' he said. "The
Irish conference is subtly linked with
the Washington conference-whose
failure would involve international
bankruptcy-andI / can't describe what
the relief would be with the removal of
one chronic and permanent cause of
antagonism between the United States
and Britain"
Despite this semi-hopeful tone the
Ulstermen show few signs of Welding
and the situation in Belfast is tense.
Some hundred casualties have been re-
ported from there this week, and al
though there was .lull in the fight
ing to-day, fresh outbreaks are ex-
pected. A daring raid on the Wind
sor barracks, in which machine guns
and rifles were seized, is believed to
have been inspired by Irish partisans.
The raid was striking evidence of the
contention that peace in Ireland is not
so near as many believe.
The Sim Feiners have lost much of
their bitterness toward the English
government, but are growing restless
over the delay in the negotiations and
are regarding the Developments in
Ulster with much concern.
A political crisis, involving the res
ignation of the Lloyd George govern
ment, is no longer expected, but the
Premier's associates see little hope of
solution of the Irish problem before
Christmas. The first phase of the ne
gotiations proved less difficult than
was expected, but the second stage has
Should the Premier reach an agreement
with Sir James Craig within the next
two weeks there would still remain
long series of discussions with the
Sim Fein over the details of the settle
ment. No serious complications are
likely to arise in future deliberations
between the government and the Slim
Feiners unless Lloyd George recedes
from the position he took when he be-
gan negotiating with the Ulster Pre-
mier.
Compromise Scrutinized
Andrew Bonar Law, who has been
trying to serve as mediator between
Lloyd George and Craig, may play q
more important part in the forthcoming
discussions. Under his plan Ulster
would enjoy powers under the home
rule act but could continue to send
representatives to Westminster instead
Of to Dublin. He would settle the re-
ligious deadlock by having a commits
sion decide what parts of Tyrone and
Fermanagh should so to the south to
insure Catholic representation in the
Dublin Parliament, and what new boun-
daries should be drawn for Monaghan
and Donegal in order to give the Prot