Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-10

London. Dec CBy the A. P.).-After I
the first surprise occasioned by Eamonn
De Valera's reputation of the PROPOSE
ton for creating the Irish Free state.
officials in bo.h London and Dublin were
occupied today mainly in canvassing the
prospects for ratification OF the Anglo
Ir.sh treaty when il comes before The
meeting Of the Dali Eireann next We'd
nesday.
The balance of opinion in both cities
appeared TO be that Arthur Griffith. as
sponsor OF the treaty, Will obtain an ef-
fective majority, although it was admit
ted here that Mr.. De Valera possesses d
strong following. and that the vol.'s.
therefore. may possibly be very close. II
Mr. De Valera should be defeated in his
fight against ratification, il is thought
here tnat he may resign his position IS
head Of the Sim Fein.
Should matters develop into taking n
pleb.scite Of the Irish people. it is thought
there would not be the slightest doubt Of
great majority in favor OF the treaty.
At the special request OF Lord Curzon.
the address in reply to King Georges
speech in the house OF lords next We'd
nesiay VIII be made by Niscount Morley,
one Of the oldest and staunchest advo-
Gates Of Irish home rule. He viii make
the motion for ratification. The motion
viii ne seconded by Earl Dunray en-, who
for many years has advocated q denim
ion settlement as applied to Ireland.
Prime Minister Lloyd George and Pre-
mier SIR James Crais OF Ulster neid a
| long conference today which was partici-
pated in a. various times by other min
| sters. including Lord Chancellor Birken-
| head, Austen Chamberlain and Winston
| Spencer Churchill. Nothing was made
known tonight regarding the results Of
: the conference, or even whether there
would be further meeting or not. It
was supposed, however. that the confer
| ence had to do largely with matters Of
| finance. During the afternoon Mr.. Lloyd
| George and Sir James had a two hours
! private conversation in tn epremier's OIL
cial residence in Downing street II is
| believed the conferences will continue TO-
morrow and that they will be attended
by other Ulster officials.
Today's conferences are said to have
been on the matter OF elucidstion Of the
| treaty and not concerning the granting
of any concessions TO Ulster beyond wha'
are contained in the treaty. a rigid tern
Of The bargain with the Sim Fem is un
deTstood TO have been that Ulster shall
| obta n no other terms whatever thar
those in the treaty. and that the minis
ters pledged themselves that neither now
| nor hereafter will Ulster, II she stayi
out, get the fiscal and other powers that
are given the south. 1t It stated that thi
SIM Feiners would not have agreed hui
for the promises they got in this respect
The idea Of the Sim Feiners is declared
TO have been that the only Chance i
get Ulster in was to squeeze her in b,
economic inducements.
Less attention is being paid to TIL
situation of Uls.er than previously, il
view Of the weightier question OF the ef
feet Of Eamonn De Nalera's decision
against the treaty. Arthur Griffith il
determining TO stand by the agreemen
IS asserted TO have the support Of man.
of the most influential men in mis- party
while Michael Collins is expected to carr
all the fighting elements among the Sin
Feiners in favor Of the treaty. WilliaI
Cosgrave, who also supports Mr.. Grit
fifth, in his position as minister for Ia
local government, is in 0iose touch wit
all bodies in Ireland, with which ne ia
great influence.
These various influences are expecte
to override the extremist section repre-
sented, for instance, by LORD Mayc
! | O'Callaghan Of Cork, who, when III
treaty was first mentioned 10 him. e1
claimed: is that what we fought for:
John Walsh, one of the prominent Sin
Feiners, and Liam Roisite, member {
parliament from Cork city. both are sic
ing with Mr.. Griffith.
Altogether in official circles in LondC
hopes are running high that the treaty
safe.