The New York herald., 1921-07-24
NORTHCLIFFE HERE,
HOPES FOR IRELAND
London Editor Arrives OH Way
to Japan to Learn About
Far East.

Viscount Northcliffe reached New
York yesterday on the Cunarder Aqui-
tania hopeful for an Irish settlement and
silent concerning the Far East. The
reason for his refusal to comment on
anything connected with the relations
between England and Japan he said was
that he did not know anything about the
Orient and was now going to find out
The midocean controversy by radio
following the barring of the London
Times from official news sources by
Premier Lloyd George was now closed
incident, he said, but repeated his former
declarati ton that 1t was characteristic
of Mr. Lloyd George to walt until man
was in mid-Atlant!c to attack him.
Lord Northcliffe was one or the first
passengers down the gangplank when
the liner docked at the Chelsea piers
shortly before noon. He was accompanied
by III. Wickham Steed. editor of the
London Times, who will be with him on
the American part of his tour. He In
tends to spend day or two around New
York. in which he will play a little golf,
and then will go to Canada through
which country he will travel on his way
TO his steamer for the Philippines. which
sails from Vancouver on August ..
Can't BE Solved Hurriedly.
Although hopeful that the Irish ques-
ton can be solved. Lord Northcliffe
pointed out that problem or seven
hundred years cannot ne settled In seven
DAYS. He expressed qualification that
the efforts at settlement are along lines
suggested by his newspapers In June,
1919.
II wonder IL Americans know that
Ireland Is offered a form of govern
ment that makes 1t possible for her to
tax England. The offer produces Sit
uation similar to that which wouic
arise If Long Island taxed New YORK.
Although negotiations are progressing
finely, am afraid there will always -
clerical differences, factional difficulties
arising because tn, North is Protestant
and the South Catholic.
1T was known in England long time
ago that efforts were being made TO
bring about negotiations so there wa
no surprise that Lloyd George entered
into conferences with Eamon de Valers..
What England and the Government dill
not know was that De Valera could
really bring about real truce in Ire
land during such conferences"
Lord Ncrthcliffe objected emphatically
to the idea that a dominion form OF
government was offered to Ireand. He
said the dominions themselves had diff
ferent forms of government and that,
nothing. 1t is form of self-govern-
ment that is offered, he insisted.
His refusal to discuss the Far Eas
was emphatic.
II make 1t n point not to discuss
something ! have never SEEN" he said
'Ill know more about Japan when I
see it,
England Disarming Already.
Disarmament? OF cours. I'm for
disarmament. Any sane person favors
disarmament. President Harding's in
vitation to discuss disarmament has
been well received throughout Europe
His move Is a wise one.
I'm England we ans not only talking
disarmament. we are doing it. An
American naval officer saw n fleet o.;
our ships rotting in a British port. rs
this the tidy British navy I've heard so
much about? he exclaimed. In the
navy we are down from our peace COM
plement of 1914 more than 10000 men
The British Empire has less than 350,0yD
troops in service everywhere"
The labor situation Is improving slow
ly, he said. American tourists in Eng
land during the coal strike were much
surprised at the peaceful manner in
which 1t was carried on.
Another topic In which he displayed
much interest was aviation. Just at
present. he i'd. he is doing his best to
prevent the ncrapping of five huge and
expensive British dirigibIes which ne
believes can be used commercially. lie
pointed out the possibility of Il line Of
airships between London and Mel
bourne. While he was on the pier two
great American naval seaplanes OF the
NC type. which first flew the Atlantic.
went by over the river. each with is
four great Liberty motors roaring
rhythmically. These were followed by
two smaller FS-L boats with two motors
each.