Evening star., 1921-09-19
Lloyd Georges Latest Note
Reiterates Refusal to Rec
ognize Independents.
BRITISH MINISTER FIRM
ON CLEAR DECLARATION
Sim Feiners Declare Former Com
munication Of Leader Has
Been Misinterpreted.

NDON, September 10
Eamonn DE Valera telcEraphed
to Premier Lloyd George to-day
asking whether Mr.. Lloyd Georges
letter of September was intend-
cd nS "a demand for n surrender
ON our part or nm invitation to n
conference free ON both sides and
without prejudice should an agree
ment not be reached"
DUBLIN, September 19-Eamonn De
Valera may call the dali eireann into
session to deliberate on the situation
brought about by the latest note sent
to Dublin by Prime Minister Lloyd
George. This communication was re-
celved yesterday at an hour that pre-
vented the Irish republican cabinet
from considering it before today.
Readiness to meet Mr.. De Valera or
other delegates from the Sim Fein
in the capacity of the chosen spokes-
men for southern Ireland Was eX-
pressed by the prime minister, but he
refused to confer with them as repre-
SentatlveS of sovereign and inde-
pendent state" Mr.. Lloyd George de-
Clared that the section OF the Sim
Fein note dispatched on September II,
irish delegates on a par with ENJOYS
from separate power, must be with
drawn before a conference was pos
sible.
He pointed out that when Mr.. De
Valera went to London to begin con-
VerSatlOnS as to a basis for settlement
OF the Irish problem ne was received
as the chosen leader of the great ma
9orlty IN southern Ireland" and that
Mr- De Valera accepted this designa-
tion.
Way Believed Paved.
After Mr.. De Valera on Saturday
dispatched telegram to Mr.. Lloyd
George stating that the Sim Fein
mad accepted the prime minister s
invitation to the Inverness confer
ence, but had merely detailed the
position he and his colleagues were
maintaining, it was believed the way
had been prepared for continuation
OF the negotiations with the British
government Yesterdays note from
the prime minister, however, made it
insistent in demanding a clear dec
laration that Ireland had not re-
nounced her allegiance to the British
crown.
The note of September -, to a
section of which the prime minister
took exception, was approved bV a
unanimous vote taken by the dali
cream. 1t would appear, therefore.
that another session of that body must
be called for the purpose of main
tanning the position assumed in that
note, or drafting a new communica-
tion which would, in some way, meet
fne views OF the prime minister.
No Information ON Reply.
The only cabinet member at the
Mansion House during the forenoon
was Arthur Griffith. foreign minister
VINO later was Joined by George Gavan
Duty. Mr.: De Valera telephoned that
he would not reach the Mansion
House until 3 o'clock this afternoon.
Desmond Fitzgerald. minister of
propaganda, when asked today as to
when a reply probably would be sent
to MIR. Lloyd George, said he could
give no information on that point
1t is suggested in some quarters
that Mr.. De Valera may be content tc
leave the situation as it stands and
discontinue the correspondence. There
seems to be general agreement that
the paragraph in the September 12
note to which Mr.. Lloyd George OBJ
jects could not be withdrawn with
out the consent of the dali eireann.
which approved it.
Note Declared Mfsfnterpreted.
In Sim Fein quarters today it was
declared that Mr.. De Valera, in his
he could to explain the paragraph in
a sense to make possible the holding
of the proposed Inverness conference,
pointing out the misinterpretation
which they considered Mr. Lloyd
George had put upon the republican
leaders previous communication
Persons in touch with the leaders
declare they are anxious to avoid a
breach and to do anything possible
which would bring about a confer
ence, but are determined to guard
against the abandonment of a prin-
cip1e the REIMBURSEMENT of which
they consider would weaken the Sinn
Fein in case of renewed conflict.
The leaders were seeking today for
q formula that would make a con-
ference possible while safeguarding
their position, but there were some in
dications that they might decide the
1t stands.