The Columbia evening Missourian., 1921-09-05
England Supports Lloyd George
With Regard To Irish Question

was concerned to persuade De Valera
that Ireland could obtain the realities of
a republic under the name of Domin-
ion, SHUTS had seen the terms of LLOYD
Georges offer. and in urging It's accep-
lance on Dc Valera he described il as
offering Ireland position identical with
that Of the free nations of the British
League. 1t vas specifically the full Do
minion status that Smuts was talking
and writing about; he even added TO
make it clear beyond question that. he
definitely understood the right of seces-
sion to be included in it: "Importan,
British Ministers have described Domin.
ion status in terms which must satisfy
all you could leGilimaiely wish for. Mr..
Lloyd George in his historic reply to Gem
eral Herizog at Paris, Mr.. Bonar Law
in celebrated declaration in the House
Of Commons. Lord Minerals Secretary
OF State for the Colonies. have stated
their views. and they coincide with the
highest claims which Dominion states.
men have ever put forward on behalf of
their free nations" Later in his letter
Smuts refers TO it again as complete
Dominion status. subject to certain STRAIT
egic safeguards which won are asked to
agree 10 voluntarily as free Dominion
and which We South Africans agreed to
as free nation in the Union of South
Africa"
Ireland was being invited to join the
British League on terms of absolute
equality with the other members of the
League. That was how Smuts Interpreted
the offer. What is good enough for
these nations ough; surely TO be good
enough for Ireland too he added. For
hishmen to say TO the world they will
not be satisfied with the status Of the
great British dominions would be to
alicnate all that sympathy. which has 81
far been the main support of,slho Irish
cause" 1'' - l''s''.-sS' :
IRISH LOSE SYMPATHY
Ireland is refusing Lloyd Georges
offer and she is-unquestionably alienat-
ing vast amount-of sympathy in the
world. But was full Dominion status
ever offered? Clearly. after his private
conferences with Lloyd George, De Va.
lera had some reason 10 doubt whether
Ii was even in anestionIeasons- beyond.
any which can be discovered .inethe text
of the offer, beyond any discovered in it
by General Suldts or, We must presume
otherwise known 10 him4-for Smuts is
an honorable man. So De Valera in. his
answer. referring 10 the freedom which
the British Dominions enjoy comes to the
point with this sentence: THE most ex.
explicit guarantees, including the Do.
minions acknowledged right to secede.
would be necessary TO secure for Ireland
an equal degree of freedom" To which
Lloyd George made this uncquivocal but.
in view of his relations with General
Smuls, surprising reply: 'No such right
can ever be acknowledged by us
Smuts unfortunately has returned 10
South Africa and cannot be confronted
with Lloyd George; but, for the few
English people who watch closely their
Governments dealings with Ireland. no
such dramatic conformation is needed to
prove that once again England has been
playing the old Irish game with both
hands behind her back and different
offer in each. Yet the great British. pub
lie, perhaps on the principle Of not let.
ting its right hand know what its left
hand is doing. is. for the time being.
persuaded that Ireland has been offered
tull Dominion status and has refused il.
and must thereby have alienated the
sympathy Of the whole world: and all
the talk one hears is how long it will
take 10 knock some sense into those
empty Irish heads.