Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-17
NEW IRISH CRISIS LOOMS
AS GEORGE CALLS VALERA

LONDON, Sept. 16.-(By the Asso-
ciated ess.)-Relations between
England and Ireland today stood as
they did before canon DeValera came
to London on July IA, to discuss
with Prime Minister Lloyd George a
possible basis for ending the Irish
controversy The Sim Fem leader
yesterday made public his note to
the prime minister affirming his
stand that Irish republican plenipo-
tentiaries could enter a conference
only as delegates of an independent
power, and Mr.. Lloyd George quickly
announced the cancellation of his in
vitation that he could not meet the
Sim Fein delegates If the claim OF
Irish independence and sovereignty
were insisted upon, but he did not
close the door to further exchanges
with the republicans. Mr.. Lloyd
George is indisposed, and is confined
to his rooms at Gairloch, Scotland
where he has been spending vaca-
ton, and it is expected here that
members of the British cabinet will
confer with him before the govern
ment takes further steps.
There was no indication here to-
day that either the British govern
ment or the Sim Fem would de-
nounce the truce arranged two
months ago.. and resume the guer-
rilla warfare that cost scores of lives
and destroyed property valued high
in the millions. Warfare is the last
thing either side desires, and no eff
fort, apparently, will be spared to
prevent any overt act that will place
on either the responsibility for re-
Stunning hostilities.
Just what the Sim Fein would do
was seemingly a difficult question to-
day. Two points made by Mr.. De-
Valera in his note to Mr.. Lloyd
George were closely examined by
those who were trying to determine
what plan the republicans had in
mind. The first was the statement:
Our nation has formally declared its
independence and recognizes itself
sovereign state and 1t is only as rep
resentatives of that state and its
chosen guardians that we have au-
thority and powers to act in behalf
of our people. It was suggested that
the Dali Eireann might intend to go
to the Irish people with the question
and seek to determine by pleb1sclte
what the desires of the people are.
The other sentence which attracted
attention was the one referring, ap-
parently to the separation of Ulster
and southern Ireland, and 1t was
considered possible that new efforts
would be made to approach the Jul
ster government with view to
reaching working agreement, and
then approaching the British govern
ment once more.
The Belfast correspondent Of the
Press association says the Irish
News of that city prints message
from a well-informed Dublin source
to the effect that the government con-
templates an early reassembly of the
British parliament. This step would
be taken, it is said, with the view
to declaring a general election so
that a new government might be
formed which would be invested with
the right to formulate domestic poll
cies and appoint delegates to the
conference on limitation Of arma-
ments to be held in Washington.
I'm this event." the correspondent
adds, 'the masses of the Irish people
may get an opportunity of giving
considered verdict on issues most vi
tally affecting their own country"