Albuquerque morning journal., 1921-08-28
TIME To SETTLE
TERMS IN IRISH
CONTROVER ERSY, IS
ENGLISH BELIEF
Declarations of Principles
Should Be Dropped If Sim
Fein Proposes to Negoti-
ate Government Proposals
REFERENDUM OF IRISH
PEOPLE is LAST HOPE
Believe That Ireland May
Finally Accept Dominion
Status Under WatChWordy
Consent Of the Governed
tBy The Associated Press.)

London, Aug. 81 (by the Assocl-
ated Press THE Irish negotiations
now have reached the critical stage,
in the British view, as mirrored by
the great majority of newspapers.
including those previously support
ers of home rule and those ad-
vanced liberal newspapers, such
the Daily News and the Manches-
ter Guardian, which in the past
have gone almost as far as the /
Sim Fein.
They think the Sim Fein declar-
ations of general principles have
gone far enough and that the time
has come for dropping declarations
of principles and getting down to
the business of arranging the terms.
If the Sim Fein proposes to neSoi-
ate the proposals which the gov
ernment offered as set Tor their
detail in Prime Minister Lloyd
Georges first letter. The general
belief expressed is that Eamonn de
Valera, the Irish republican leader,
having said all that is necessary TO
assure Irishmen of the Sim Fem
Theoretical standpoint, will do TINS
The British find it difficult TO
analyze Mr.. de Valera's exact posi-
ton from wha. over light his latest
notes throw upon 1t. There is the
belief, or at least the hope, tnat
the policy of the Irish republican
cabinet will be while constantly
affirming Ireland's claim to inde-
Ipendence, to negotiate at the same
time terms for dominion status un-
der the new watchword of con
sent Of the governed'--in other
words that, while clinging to the
lassertion of the inherent right TO
independence, the cabinet will
I"consent'' to accept dominion
status, bargaining to the last ditch
for the nearest possible approach
Ito independence.
| ut is hoped here that the final
solution may rest upon a referen-
ldum of the Irish people, The New
Statesman, which is the most solid
lorgan of the labor inover.ent and
la consistent and well-informau
friend of Ireland. asserts that four
lfifths of the Irish people would
vote for acceptance of the British
| terms. Every observer in Ireland,
lit says, agrees that the people are
tired to death of guerrilla fighting
and are finding rare enjoyment OF
1.-THE freedom to live their normal
Hives which the truce has given
them. If the Irish republican cab
iinet eventually refuses the British
terms, a referendum of the British
tpeople probably will follow in the.
form of the British government
lresorting to general election to
give the country a chance to reject
or confirm the governments policy.
Judging from the newspapers
again, there is a distinct harden
ing of British sentiment in the di-
r, ction of coercing the Irish with
more force than hitherto has been
used. British sentiment, they de-
clare, would approve this based
on the feeling that the govern
ment has offered very generous
concessions and that the secession
of Ireland could not possibly be
permitted.
| Ulster apparently is giving no
help to a compromise and Mr.. de
Valera, 1t is believed here. must
drop any hope of making an ar
rangement with the northern prov
! inces whereby they will present a
united front with southern Ire
land to Great Britain.
/. Prime Minister Lloyd George to-
| morrow is going for a vacation in
the Scotch country, forty miles
from "a railroad. There is much
|. curiosity here as to who will act
as negotiators in behalf OF Great
, Britain in the case the negotiations
begin, since the prime minister in
! his letter to Mr.. de Valera empha-
sized that there should be no de-
} lay in negotiating.
Two labor leaders, who are
! friendly to the Irish aspirations
lgave their views today. Arthur
Henderson. speaking at Carlisle,
said the situation was critical, but
not hopeless
An almost insurmountable obsta-
Gle Is the fact that the Ulster par
liament answer has created. J. T.
Thomas, leader of the railway men
who is visiting Dublin. said:
: 'The atmosphere see In Ireland
is conducive to peace. The out
standing fact In the condition OF
the Irish negotiations is that both
Mr.. Lloyd George and Mr.. de Va
lera ended their last notes By
statements of a desire of willing
! ness to continue the discussions,