The Washington herald., 1921-10-23
IRISH ARMY CHIEF
GOES TOERIN TO
'CALL'DEVALERA
Incensed at Interference
In Note Exchange. of
King and Pope.
Special Cable to Tia washington Herald
and ChioERo Trfbune.)

Special Cable to Ths washington Herald
and Chicago Tri6une.)
LONDON, Oct. 22.-Michael Col
Inns. the leader OF the Irish repub-
lican army and one of the strong
est figures in the Irish delegation
now negotiating for a settlement
with Great Britain, left for Ire
land last night to read the riot
act to Eamonn de Valera for his
Intervention in the correspondence
between Pope Benedict and King
George. which action seriously
threatened the chances for peace.
Mr. Collins arrived in KingstOwn
this morning.
In the meantime the rest Of the
delegation were busy today confer
ring on the situation caused by Mr..
de Valera s letter to the Pope. Com
munications have been passing be-
tween the Irish headquarters in
Chelsea and Dublin by telephone,
telegraph and courier.
Il is reported in Dublin that Mr..
de Valera was angry because he
was not included in the delegation
and he Is determined to assert his
position as president, while others
attribute his outbreak to his in
durable passion for argument at
the right or wrong moment.
Conference aces Crisis.
At any rate Mr.. de Valera's
bOmbshelI has forced to the front
at once the question of British
sovereignty over Ireland, which
both sides have been trying to
avoid until the, future relations
have been settled.
Prime Minister Lloyd George
would have been glad to have con-
tinued this course but he will be
compelled by the pressure of Par
lament t. insist on the immediate
clearing Up Of the atmosphere. AL
ready a formidable group of Union
ist members of Parliament have
threatened to revolt from the coali-
ton because the government con-
scented to meet the Irish repub-
licans and a good many others are
uneasy and may join the revOIters
unless the situation is handled very
delicately. It will take all the
patience and craftsmanship of both
sides to prevent a rupture when
the conference reassembles on
Monday afternoon.
May Change L. :. Trip Plan.
Some government circles believe
that De Valera was Influenced by
Irish extremists in America who
want to prevent Lloyd George from
going to Washington. II this is
true the action could not have been
more appropriate for such a course
and II is now very uncertain if the
prime minister will be able 60
leave. II is practically certain that
he will not go II the conference
breaks down and II is almost GER
tain that he will then decide to
hold a general election in order to
secure a new mandate for dealing
with Ireland.
The most hopeful phase OF the
situation is the fact that the Irish
delegation here is Just as anxious
for peace as the British. In a pri-
waite conversation today one Of the
Irish leaders referred to Mr.. De Va
!era's action as disastrous.
A leading member Of the deleEa-
tion said this morning that the
chances Of an agreement on Monday
were 10 to ~.
] am informed that the Irish del
eEates to the conference have agreed
10 suspend operation Of the Irish
courts during the negotiations. The
operation of these courts was re-
Earded by the British as a breach
" the truce and liable to lead to
more serious consequences
1t is stated that fifty prisoners in
Il
have been on a hunger strike since
Friday as protest against the treat
mPnt they have been receiving there.
All Irish republican army liaison Of
Ulcers in the martial law area are
rumored to have sent in their res
iEnations in sympathy for the
strikers.
Copyright. 1871