The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-07
HELD CONFERENCE
WITH LEADERS OF
IRISH REPUBLIC
Hope For Irish Peace Through
Efforts of General
Jan SHUTS.
SIMILAR SITUATION
IN AFRICA SETTLED
Today That Country Is One of
the Happiest in the
British Empire.

LONDON, July 6.--For the moment
General Jan Shuts, the South African
premier is the outstanding figure in the
hoped for peace settlement in Ireland.
General SHUTS has just returned from
that country where he engaged in con-
ferences with the republican leader Ea-
mann dc Valera and other men of in
fluence in the Irish situation and tonight
he declared his belief that the problem is
capable OF solution.
Today General SHUTS was cIoseted for
many hours with the British prime min
lister, Sir James Craig the Ulster pre-
mier; Sir Hamar Greenwood, chief sec
retary for Ireland; Lord Brkenhead, lord
high chancellor; A. j. Balfour, lord presi-
dent of the council; Edward Shortt, home
secretary; Earl Middleton, leader of the
South Irish Unionists, and Sir Horace
Plunfett, chairman OF the irish conven-
tion in 1917-1S. 1t is confidently believed
that he was the bearer of definite pro-
posals from Mr.. de Valera and those as
sociated with him but nothing official
has been made public OF their nature OF
in fact Of the proceedings relating to a
settlement.
Sim Fein flags intertwined with Union
Jacks in the Irish quarter of Liverpool
greeted the visit of the Prince of Wales
prominent Sim Feiner, the order for this
came from Dublin. Other signs Of con-
ciliation are looked for as general cessa-
tion Of hostilities is considered essential
beyond all else to negotiations for peace.
Smuts Tells OF Irish Problem.
LONDON, July 6.--General Jan Chris
tian Smuts. premier of the Union OF
South Africa, who has just returned from
a visit to Ireland, publicly expressed his
opinion tonight that the Irish problem
is soluable problem. This statement
was greeted with loud applause by the
distinguished company which attended a
dinner given in honor Of General SHUTS
by the South African colony in London.
General SHUTS opened his speech by
declaring that he had not abandoned hope
OF America. "She is a coy maiden and
must not be wooed too warmly" he said.
II want to see America pull with us in
this great world service that today is
being rendered by the British empire al
most alone" Then alluding humorous
ly to his visit to Ireland, he declared he
found the people divided into two
classes-those in jail and those on the
run"
The Irish problem, said General SHUTS.
was one largely engaging ''the whole
bfltlsn empire. IL was a problem, how
ever on which he could not speak tonight,
except to express the belief that it was
soluble and that If there was a better
atmosphere, iii we all help to create a
better atmosphere and are determined
70 wipe out what is really a stain on the
empires record. we shall succeed"
There he continued. emphatically, Il
think, / am hopeful. / trust that the
question win be solved and that thereby
the British empire will be freed from the
imputation that in this ancient port OF
the United Kingdom there still exists
violation OF the fundamental principles
upon which the empire rests. / say that
the problem is soluble because 1 have
seen it solved in my own country Under
circumstances less embittered than in
Ireland, but certainly Of different char
ncter.
III ever this problem of the subiection
of one people presented hopeless view
II was in South Africa. But finally in a
spirit OF give and take, forbearance nnd
trying TO render something 10 the roint
of view of the other side we solved the
problem and today South Africa IS one
Of the happiest countries in the empire.
our forbearance and self sacrifice have
paid US handsome dividends In ouc ma
tional life.'