New-York tribune., 1921-12-05
Notify Lloyd George That
the Dali Finds No Way
Observation-Disclosures: f:
New Conference To-day
Ulster Is Prepared
To Drop Parleys
Premier Firm ON Question
of Allegiance; Return to
MilitaryRul i'm Erin Seen

LONDON, Dec. (By The Associated
Press ).-Foreboding of the collapse Of
the Irish peace negotiations came to-
day with Sim Fein's rejection of the
latest British plan and listers an
nounced intention of ending the parleys
on Tuesday unless something definite
develops before then.
The future is not considered promis-
ing, although there is this to be said
about the situation, that the Sim Fein
representatives are still in London. and
Premier Lloyd George has on many
previous occasions shown himself capa-
BILE Of overc oming what appeared to be
an almost insurmountable barrier. No
official word has yet been given out
that an end has come to the negotia-
tions.
The members of the special commit
tee of the British government who took
part in the original conference are to
meet tomorrow to take some definite
action. Unless an agreement is
reached by tomorrow at another meet
ing with the Irish delegates it is
understood that the government will
not submit its proposals to Sir James
Craig. The Ulster Premier will speak
at Belfast on Tuesday, and if no pro-
posals have reached him by that time
will announce the negotiations ended
General Impression Gloomy
Lloyd George hurried back to Lon
don from Chequers Court to-day to re-
ceive the report Of the representatives
of the Dahl Eireann on the latest
British peace proposals. In the con-
ference between the British ministers
and the Sim Fein delegates, which
followed, the Premier and his col
leagues were informed that the pro.
posals were not acceptable. They had
been given full consideration by the
Dahl Eireann at Dublin, but no way
had been found to reconcile the differ
ences which had arisen.
Those present at the conference we're
Mr.. Lloyd George, j. Austen Chamber
lain, government leader in the House
of Commons; Viscount Birkenhead
Lord Chancellor, and Sir Robert s.
Horne, Chancellor of the Exchequer
representing Great Britain, and Arthur
Griffith, Robert Barton and George
Gavan Duffy, representing the Sim
Feiners.
The general impression of the situa-
tion after the meeting was very gloomy
The 1rishmen insisted that no principle
would be sacrificed to gain listers as
sent, or to put Ulster in wrong if it
refused assent.
Allegiance Question Vital
Premier Lloyd Georges difficulty
according to those in close touch with
him, is that he cannot ask Ulster to
agree to any terms which British
opinion would not indorse He is
firm in the stand that the allegiance
question cannot be abandoned or cam.
oufaged, and this, it is said, has proved
the most insuperable of all the obstacles
to settlement.
The proposal that the King might
be recognized as the head of British
federation of free states, but not as
King of Ireland, was objected to by
the British ministers. 1t was declared
it would be secuted by Ulster and
would not be intelligible to the
made to devise some form of allie.
glance Sim Fein might accept, but
this apparently proved unsuccessful.
The crux Of partition was almost
equally serious. Sim Fein regards
Irish unity as fundamental and was
firm that no proposal aimed at secur.
ing. listers assent should prove a pos.
sible permanent bar
Sim Fein Faces Blame
If the negotiations come to an end
the result, in the opinion of the com
mentators, would be to- throw the onus
Of the collapse on Sim Fein, an,
this will bring Lloyd George back te
the position he assumed before the
negotiations started-that British Law
must be maintained and authority
sought for drastic action. Meanwhile
dominance in the Irish administration
would rest with the military
Thus far no agreement has beer
reached for any prolonged extension
of the truce.