New Britain herald., 1921-08-08
Sim FEINERS Send
LETTER TO PREMIER
(Continued from first page

McKeown, member of the Irish re-
publican parliament the impression
was given in official circles here that
he would be released with the other
Sim Fem members who have been
in prison.
It was intimated that the decision
to retain him in prison as announced
Saturday came from Dublin castle
and was not the ruling of the British
cabinet. which has not rendered a
decision in the matter.
It was pointed out that the Irish
prisoners were being progressively re-
leased and here again the guarded in
timation was given that the case of
McKeown would be reached with the
other Sim Fein members who have
been in prison.
In Hands of Premier.
It is understood Premier Lloyd
George, now in Paris for the supreme
council meeting. is keeping in close
touch with the Irish situation and a
courier who is reported to have been
sent by De Valera to Lloyd George
from Ireland is believed to have gone
on from this city to the French cap
ital on his mission. The understand
ing is that the settlement of the
of the premier.
The opinion is expressed in official
circles that while the ends of justice,
in the official view, would be met only
by the execution of this prisoner it
is highly proba ble that the premier,
in the higher interests of peace, may
consent to his release.
London, Aug. s.-Complications of
considerable gravity have entered into
the Irish situation as a result of the
governments, decision not to liberate
John McKeown, member of the Irish
republican parliament, who is under
conviction of murder, along with
other Sim Fein leaders who have been
Imprisoned. An outburst of indignant
anger in the ranks of the Sim Fem
has been caused, and last night there
were indications of possible termin-
alton of the truce in Ireland and the
wreck of peace negotiations there.
May End Truce
There were reports in this city dur
ing the night that an immediate
termination of the truce by the Sim
Fein was probable but the Associated
Press after a close inquiry in respon-
sible quarters in Dublin was unable
to find any authorization for such
rumor. The Sim Fein however issued
an official statement that no meeting
of the Irish republican parliament
would be held until Mckeown was re-
leased. This was coupled with an ex-
preston that the governments action
in keeping Mckeown in prison SEEM
ed to evince a desire on the part OF
the British. cabinet to end the truce.
Claim Truce Violated
In some Sim Fem quarters the
governments action relative to Nc
Keown was declared to constitute, in
any case, violation of the spirit of
the truce and anxiety was said to exist
lest the extreme republicans in the
more remote districts of Ireland
might start acting as though the truce
was already broken. There was how
ever no report of any contemplated or
actual breach of the compact, though
there was undoubtedly great excite
m ent.
Sim Fciners' View
The Sim Fein viewpoint is that Nc
Keown is entitled to the benefit Of
the recognition which it is claimed the
government has given to the belliger-
ent status of the Irish republican
army. in which he was a leader. 1t is
asserted that there is general resent
ment over the fact that he is charged
with the murder of District Inspector