The Washington herald., 1921-10-10
Delegates Sure to Strike
Troubled Waters on
First Few Days.
CONFERENCE HOPE
AT STAKE EARLY
Crown Allegiance, Truce
And Unity Are First
Vexing Questions.

LONDON, Oct. s.-The Irish peace
conference. opening tomorrow. will
plunge to the heart of the problem
Immediately. There will be no at
tempt to delay facing the para
amount issues. The conferees will
proceed upon the policy that unless
the most difficult problems can be
adjusted early there is little pros
pect of eventual success.
The first few hours naturally will
be given to consideration of the
program for conference procedure
prepared by the British govern
ment.
After this the negotiators will
sweep aside all minor questions for
consideration of three main phases
of the argument, which are:
Aeenda Of Farley.
First - Alleged breaches of the
truce in Ireland by Sim Fein's
army.
Second - Ireland allegiance to
the crown.
Third-Ireland's unity, involving
consideration of the status of Ul-
ster.
Discussion Of these issues will
mean that the early days of the
conference will be critical. II the
parley continues after the govern
ment and the Irish leaders have
exchanged their views on all or any
of these questions, II will be safe to
assume that Lloyd Georges peace
move has more than a fair chance
Of success.
Truce-Breaking Charges.
The governments charges re-
garding Irelands breaking of the
truce, which has been effective
since July, but which lately has
suffered a relaxation on both sides,
involve continued drilling of the
republican army. kidnapping OF
prominent civil and military off,
GERS, conflicts with crown forces
the Communicating of private
houses for use as barracks, and the
continued boycott of British goods,
all of which. government offlcial'
say, teopardiZe the success of the
coming conference. Assurances
that the truce be kept. they
declare. must come from the lrisf
delegation.
The second point means that ths
Irish negotiators must understand
at the outset that no discussion o.
Ireland's severance from the EN-
pjte will be entertained by the gov
eminent. There have been recent
intimations that the Sim Fein dele
gates are likely to inject this Ques'
tion.
Release Of Prisoners.
In the meantime certain Irish
elements. as well as some of th'
English, are showing increased in
sistence that the political prisoners
now interned in British camps IL
ireland be released. Lord Decies
formerly chief censor in Ireland. IL
one of those strongly urging thu
release of prisoners "in order t
avoid trouble during the conference
and to improve the atmosphere"
1t is probable that Eamonn d.
Valera will come to London at {
later time. not to participate in tn
| negotiations but in order to be ii
constant communication with hi
colleagues.
Tie London press generally hopei
for the success of the conferesce
1t admits the obstacles but point
out that both peoples overwhelm
ingly desire a settlement and tina
British craftsmanship has rarel!
been so untrammeled by any con
sideration other than the most fun
damental principles of national Sc
curity as II is today. And 1t l
years since ireland has had such Al
opportunity to appreciate the con
trasts between war and peace.
Sim Feiners Secluded.
The Sim Fein delegates. quar-
tered in their Chelsea mansion arre
the uproarious welcome of yester
day, remained secluded throughou
today.
They have pledged themselves {
refuse all British hospitality
whether from the government o
from private individuals, and thei
headquarters is stated entirely b
Irish servants.
The conference will, open Off
cially at IL o'clock tomorro,
morning. The Irish delegates at
tended church this morning, and
few of the party motored aroun
London in the afternoon.
1t is predicted that unless tn
parley comes to an untimely en-
during the first week. IL will last a
| IL iot,