Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-22
DECISION AS To :
DOMINION RULE
Secret Session Being Held and
Prolonged Discussion is
Expected Before End
B0LAND Is PRESENT
Expected to Give Idea of Pub
lie Opinion in America
Many Conferences Hele
BOLAND Is PRESENT

DUBLIN, Aug. 22-Secret sessions
of the Irish republican parliament
for the purpose of drafting Sim
Fein reply to Great Britain's pro-
posals began today. The public meet
ings last Tuesday and Wednesday
and the conferences between Eamon
deValera and his colleagues were be-
lieved to have laid the ground for
the work of the parliament, and it
seemed probable that leaders of the
Sim Fein ould submit early in the
secret session a draft of the reply
they would send to London.
The presence of Harry ]. Boland,
who represented Mr.. deValera in the
United States after the Sim Fein
chieftain had returned to Ireland,
was considered important. 1t was
believed he would submit to parlia-
ment report outlining the state of
p Bile opinion on the other side of
the Atlantic. 1t has been understood
since the initial meeting that a deci-
sion might be delayed until Mr.,
Boland reached this city and his ar
| rival was looked upon as a signifi-
| cant event of day marked by actiy.
| tiles among the republican leaders,
Mr.. deValera and his cabinet held
prolonged conferences during the
| day and it was assumed that ar
rangements for today's meeting were
completed. There was no intimation
as to the probable time that would
| elapse before parliament would fin-
ish it's work and send it's reply "a
| London.
There have been indications thai
certain amount of dissension haf
existed in the rank and file .cf parlia
meslt. over the. attitude to Be fakej
toward the British offer of dominion
status of ireland and it appeared
probable many members woule
speak before final dcision was reach.
ed
Press comment would seem to re-
fleet a desire on part of the Sim
F'ein not to utterly reject the offer,
but rather to obtain from Prime
Minister Lloyd George statement
giving details of the governments
offer. Objections have been made
that Ireland, because of her geo.
graphical position would not be
given the same sort of dominion
government enjoyed by Canada an1
Australia, and it has been held that
the prime minister should define his
exact position in this respect.
The letter to Mr.. de Valera from
Jan C. Smuts, premier of South
Africa, in which General Smuts gave
his construction of the British
terms, has always been considcrei
of great importance, and neWSpa-
pers have asked Mr.. Lloyd George
to signify his acceptance or quali-
fications of the views of the South
African stateman. Organs of the
unionists have been urging accept
ance of the governments proposals.
or at least submission of them to a
plebiscite in southern Ireland.
The attitude of Ulster had appar-
emily been unrelenting, so far as
making common cause with the Sim
Fein in attempting a settlement
with Great Britain was concerned.
1t seemed the decision of Sir James
Craig to stand aloof during negotia-.
tions had not been reconsidered.
The week end passed but 1t was
marked in Belfast by the explosion
of bomb. Dispatches did not con-
meet the incident with activities or
Sim Feiners or their opponents.
Long before II o'clock crowds
gathered outside the mansion house
to cheer Republican leaders. partic-
ularly Mr.. Boland and Miss Mary
MacSwiney. She arrived from the
United States yesterday with ME-
Boland
CONTINUED on page ~