The Washington herald., 1921-06-29
Sim Fein Leader viii
Answer Lloyd George
After Conference.
PROPOSES PARLEY
WITH MINORITY
Doubtful of Settlement
While Irish Unity
Is Denied.
Especial Cabls 10 Ths wsshingtsn xsrkk
and United NsvG)

SPECIAL c.Ss to III. v..ht.etss xsusN
snd United nsvG)
LONDON. June .s.-Eamonn De
Valera Sim Fein president OF Ire
land. has replied TO Lloyd Georges
invitation to confer with him on
the Irish situation. declaring him
self dubious OF effecting a lasting
peace so long as Ireland's essential
unity is denied. but holding out the
promise that after conferring vfth
his colleagues he will make q def-
mite answer to the British premier.
De Valera announces, too. that
he has invited Sir James Craig.
premier of Ulster. the Earl OF MID
dleton and other prominent Irish
leaders TO meet him in Dublin Mon
day.
Wants Pernsnent Peace.
The Irish president wrote 20
Lloyd George that he was anxious
for a permanent peace but that he
could see no avenue towards peace
IL the premier continued TO deny
the essential unity OF ireland
Il have, however, invited repre-
sentatives OF the political minority
TO confer with me before replying
fully to your invitation" he said.
81 am in consultation with such
OF the principal representative OF
the nations as are available" said
De Valera in his note TO the pre-
mier-hinting. of course at the i'm
prisonment which has made some OF
his lieutenants Inaccessible" to
him. We desire most earnestly to
help to bring about q lasting peace
between the peoples OF the two
islands. But see no avenue
whereby this can be reached IL you
deny Ireland's essential unity and
set aside the principle Of national
self
Sends Letter 90 Cr.ls.
De Valera also sent messages to
Sir James Craig. Sir Maurice Dock
rill, Sir Robert Woods and Andrew
Jameson. as follows:
The reply which /, as spokesman
for the Irish nation. shall make to
Lloyd George will AFFECT the lives
and futures OF the political minority
Of this country no less than those
OF the majority.
Before sending that reply. there
fore, ] would like to confer with
you. to learn at first hand the views
Of the certain section Of our people
whom you represent.
Il am confident that you will not
refuse this service to ireland, and
shall await you at the mansion
house in Dublin on Monday next.
I hope you will find it possible TO
attend"
May Ask Troop withdrawal
Immediate withdrawal of all
Black and Tan forces from Irelsnd
may be the price set by De Valera
upon his willingness to confer with
Lloyd George on the Irish problem
From advices reaching here from
Ireland. where he is now discuss
ing the situation with his lieuten-
ants. IL is becoming apparent that
pe Valera is being urged partcu-
l0ly by the more extreme faction
to establish the removal Of the
hated forces as q condition to the
peace conference.
A continuous interchange OF ur-
official "Leelers" between members
OF the government and Sinn Fein
leaders however. is In progress. al
though these exchanges may prove
premature. According to the irish
office and the faction dominated by
Sir Hamsr Greenwood. chief secre-
tary for ireland. withdrawal Of the
auxiliary troops under present con-
ditions woule be impossible unless
the Sim Felners are willing for
their president to surrender their
arms.
General Truce Prvbshle
II is generally believed that the
result will be the establishment Of
a general truce, the Sim Feiners
voluntarily refraining from harass-
ing tactics, and the Black and
Tsns remaining, under government
orders, in barracks while the nego-
tiations are proceeding.
In the meantime, the constsbu-
larry have been active, and intensive
raids have been carried out in the
Cork district.
The home OF Leo Murphy. a com-
mander in the Irish Republican
army. was surrounded and forty
fiye suspects were captured
Murphy. who was among the ar
rested, attempted to escape and was
shot dead. Pa