The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-19
UNEXPECTED MOVE
In SITUATION is
BEING DEVELOPED
Ulster Leaders Statement Fore
casts No Hope of Further
Negotiations.
WASHES HANDS OF
THE WHOLE AFFAIR
Hope Is Held Out That Lloyd
George and De Valera May
Find Way Out.
tsy The Associated Press, !,

LONDON, July 1S.--The Irish negotia-
tions have taken an unexpected develop
ment late tonight, Sir James Craig, the
Ulster premier, on leaving for Belfast
made an important statement, which ap-
pears to forbid any hope OF assembling
conference such as Premier Lloyd
George proposed between himself, Mr.. de
valera and the Ulster premier.
The Ulster leader maintains that tho
Sinn Feiners themselves by contesting the
elections for the northern parliament on
a platform of mo PARTITION" in which
they we're roundly defeated. have recog-
nized listers claim to self determina-
tiOn. and, so far as his words have been
interpreted for the present. he seems to
wash his hand Of any further participa-
tion in the peace negotiations.
Sir James said;
Il return home well satisfied with the
efforts being made towards peace. Mr..
do Valera has broken his silence and
the press that he proposes TO found his
claim on recognition Of the right Of self
determination"
The Ulster premier contended that the
people of Northern Ireland in the recent
elections determined" their own parlia-
mant by an overwhelming majority and
that Mr.. de Valera and his friends ad-
mitted the right of such self-determina-
tlon on the part OF Northern Ireland by
tho fact that they themselves stood as
ca andidates for the northern parliament
and submitted their policy of mo par
tition." This, in fact, was the only issue
placed before the. electorate, said Sir
.iames. and mo partition" was rejected
lsy the largest majority ever secured in
any general election,
Such being the true facts he con-
iinued, "it now only remains for Mr.. do
Valera and the British people to come
to terms regarding the area outside OF
that of which l am prime minister. The
people of Northern Ireland make no claim
whatever to determine the terps of set
tlement which Great Britain shall make
with Southern Ireland.
When this is accomplished I can
promise cordial cooperation on equal
terms with southern Ireland in any mat
tiers affecting our common interest.
Having reached the present stage, /
return to Ireland TO carry on the practi-
cal WORK OF the government. l feel that
our interests are ably represented in the
imperial parliament. and or course, our
services are available at any moment"
The official announcement Issued at the
close OF long conference between tho
premier and Mr.. de Valera today says:
"The conversations between Mr.. Lloyd
George ar Mr.. de Valera will be re-
eumed ~ 80" This ordinarily would
permit Ia. a. b public and Ireland to
stil indulgs m confident hope that a sat
isfactory settlement would ultimately be
reached. But Sir James Craig's state
ment. which was given out in the form
OF an interview, has put rather a damper
on the hopeful spirit.
Nothing Is allowed TO leak as to what
IS xes place behind the closed doors of the
cabinet rooms and the secrecy extends to
Il tacit agreement to put no questions
ON the subject in pairment.
Though il had been thought possible
from the first that Ulster might adopt
such an attitude, this sudden dashing Of
hopes that a peace conference would be
assembled as an outcome OF the separate
negotiations OF the prime minister with
dc Valera and Craig. comes somewhat as
n shock to the public. The Ulster pre-
amer declares bluntly that the British
government must reach its own agree
nent with de Valera and that Ulster is
determined to maintain its present sta
tus. thus repudiatipg the whole Sim Fein
argument that Ulster is in the minority
ana must bow to the majority in Ireland.
There is some hope, however, that
when Mr. Lloyd George meets Mr.. dc
valera again on Thursday, he may be
able by some means TO rescue the nego-
tiations from the apparent deadlock.
While the premier was in conference
with Mr. de Valera he sent a telephone
message from the Ulster leader who ar
rived with the Marquis of Londonderry
almost at the moment that the premier
xvas taking leave Of Mr.. de Valera; In
fact the latter was not aware until aft
erward that Sir James had been sum
moned. The official announcement show
that Mr.. Lloyd George received the VI
ster premier and his colleagues after de
Valera departed.
Mr.. Lloyd George conferred with the
Ulster premier alone The members OF
thefr respective cabinets accompanied
the Irish representatives but so far
a. is known did not participate In the
conference with the premier