New-York tribune., 1921-12-01
Miracle Alone Can Pre-
vent Break, Each Side
Admits; Government
Puts All Business Aside
Lloyd George Firm
On Washing g'on Trip
Sinn Fein Suspicious and
Expects Truce to De-
cay; Comedies Nothing

LONDON, Nov. 80 (By The Asso-
ciated Press) ALI government busi.
ness is giving way to the gravity OF
the Irish situation. Both government
and Irish circles express the feeling
that only a miracle can avert the col.
lapse of the conference and renews,
Of warfare.
II had been intended to hold a Cabi.
net council tonight to consider Ger.
man reparations in connection with
the visit of Or. Walther Eathenau. bn,
ths mad to be postponed to permit the
special Cabinet committee dealing with
Irish affairs to hold a sitting. LORD
blrkenhead, due to speak at political
meeting in Liverpool, was obliged tc
stay in London. He sent message OF
apology, explaining that his absence
was owing to grave public affairs"
Premier Lloyd George also wired te
the meeting explaining that Lord Birk-
anhead's presence in London was "im.
peratively demanded by the present
position of the Irish negotiations.
Sim Fein Stands Firm
A spokesman of the Sim Fein de
clared this evening that there was n,
intention on the part of the Sim Feir
to alter its attitude regarding eithel
the unity of Ireland or allegiance t.
the crown. Representatives of the Sim
rem TOOK pains to deny formally the
statement of London newspaper that
hrst, the Sim Fein had consented tx
agree to plan whereby Ulster coult
contract with an all-lreland Parlia
ment, retaining her existing right.
until or unless she changes her mind
second, to form an allegiance (which
ought to be satisfactory to any Brit
ash Minister who is not purely a for
malist"; third, the appointment of .
boundary commission to delimit tn,
present political and religious frontie,
OF Ulster to distribute the populations
between the north and the south on ;
more satisfactory basis.
Reg ding The Suggestion that fhl
gcvernment Will propose a new schem,
TO Ulster, the Sim Fein delegates sa,
they are not concerned with it and re
fuse to share the governments respon
bility for it. There was another ses
sion this evening of the British dele
gates, but nothing was Forthcoming al
q result of it.
Lloyd George to Make Trip
Whatever the result, Mr.. Lloye
George will go to Washington" {
Downing Street official said tonight.
Respecting this it was said at Sim
Fein headquarters that "such a move
on the part of the Premier would no
be viewed with patience or withou
suspicion, for the reason that if Irish
American support was weakened il
consequence of the Prcmier's visit tt
the United States the S,nn Fein Nigh
be forced to modify its demands, upor
which it feels now in position to per
sist"
The impossibility of maintaining thu
truce long after ths breakdown of tn,
conference Is rcn'i2asi The view cx
pressed by the Sinll FeAers is tha
there woule fe no fol.,;J dcnunciatior
of the truce by either gide. but rnA
it would Quickly decay" i y point
ed out that such provocative acts OF
both sides as have been occurring re
Gently in Ireland would probably b,
regarded as definite breaches of tn,
truce and cause it's speedy collapse i
it were not for the fact that the con
ference still has being. When the con
ference finally fails, such acts mus
inevitably lead to renewed warfare.