Evening star., 1921-09-17
Writes De Valera That Dele
oates Cannot Come as From
Sovereign State.
SAYS TO RECEIVE THEM
WOULD BE RECOGNITION
Declares Government Will Never
Consent to Abandonment of Al
legiance to King.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, September 17.-Prime min
lister Lloyd George. replying today to
the communication of Eamonn De
Valera on Friday. says that to receive
the Sinn Fein delegates to the pro-
posed conference as representatives
of an Independent and sovereign state
would constitute formal and official
recognition of Ireland's severance
from the kings domains"
Mr.. Lloyd George says that SO long
as Mr.. De Valera insists that the
Irish delegates should confer as the
representatives of an Independent and
sovereign state a conference is i'm
possible.
In his reply Mr. Lloyd George de-
clares it is idle to say that coS-
ference in which the British repre-
sentatives had to meet the Sim Fein
plenipotentiaries as the Sim Fein
fives of an independent and sovereign
state would be a conference without
prejudice"
Would Mean Recognition.
ITO receive them as such." the
prime minister says, would consti-
tute formal and official recognition of
1reland's severance from the kings
domain 1t would entitle them to
make treaty, but 1t would equally
entitle them to make no treaty and to
break off the conference at any point
and negotiate union of Ireland with
a foreign power.
"The government are prepared to
discuss how the association of Ireland
with the British empire could best be
reconciled with Irish aspirations, but
they could not consent to any aban-
donment, however informal. of the
principle of allegiance to the king
upon which the whole fabric of the
empire and every constitution in 1t
are based"
Acceptance Only Way Out.
Sim Fein acceptance of membership
in the British commonwealth as the
basis of negotiations with Prime Min
lister Lloyd George is seen as the
only way out of the present Irish sit
uation and deadlock by London news
pers, although the prospects regard
ing the conference are CONSIDERED I'M
proved by Eamonn De Valera's latest
note to the prime minister. The Daily
Chronicle today said that such action
by the Irish republicans would mean
that peace was in sight. the news
paper adding that until the Sim
Fein does accept. peace is unattain-
able"
.aThere is satisfactory evidence in
both English and Irish newspapers.
ridiculous dispute which brought
about a temporary abandonment OF
the Inverness conference is not likely
to have any very serious or perma--
nent effects"
Public Opinion Blamed.
The Daily Express asserted that
"tuggling with a phrase" led to the
deadlock, but said there was little
doubt since receiving Mr.. de Valera's
latest letter the prime minister would
find means to accommodate Mr.. de
Valera and his friends"
public opinion in Ireland" the
newspaper added. made this step on
the part of the Sim Fein leader in
evitable."
The Irish situation assumed a more
hopeful appearance since Mr.. de
Valera in his telegram yesterday
seemed to place different construc-
ton on his own words. in the opinion
of the London Times. This news
paper said patience and good will
should solve the immediate principle
and it believed Mr.. Lloyd George
might well accept Mr.. de Valera's
contention for a conference without
conditions, and name the earliest pos
sible day for it.
ron uASTv SAWS pApER