The New York herald., 1921-08-16
HOPE STRONG SINN FEM
WILL ACCEPT PEACE TERMS
Continued from Fnst Paqe.


ment alone but by all six Governments
Of the British Commonwealth nations
There Is some disposition among Off
cial Sim Feiners 10 minimize this COM
mitment. In view OF Mr.. Lloyd Georges
subsequent statement that questions be-
tween Great Britain and Ireland could
not be interferred with by any foreign
Power" The Freemdn'S Journal never
theless insists that Gen. Smuts's letter
carried the plain implication of the
British Governments commitment to it's
principles and the embodiment of the
Empires guarantee in the settlement
instead OF that international guarantee
70 Ireland against further British ag-
gression which has been the soul OF the
Sim Fein demand for independence
This, too, may offer a way out. II the
Dali Eireann agrees to this construction.
Il may feel 1t is willing to accept i'm
perial connection in return for other un-
doubted and admitted generosities in the
present offer.
May Accept Compromise.
In regard to Ulster, 1t Is frankly ad-
mitted on both sides that there is little
hope OF an immediate settlement. Sir
James Craig, the Ulster Premier; Lord
Londonderry. Lord Pirr.e and other en-
lightened and far seeing northern lead
ers having overestlmated their strength.
They cannot drown the fanatic beating
OF Orange drums. But a compromise on
this question seems to be one the Dali
Eireann is most likely to accept Every
southerner questioned seemed confident
Ulster would soon see the folly OF stay
ing out OF Independent Ireland once 1t
was going concern, and they base their
confidence not upon coercion but upon
the palpable practical benefits they as
sert will ensue. 1t is Ulster. however.
that Is the powder magazine which may
be set alight while the Dali Eireann is
trying to conclude the parleys.
The differences regarding the military
terms work out largely as differences in
form rather than in substance. Mr..
Lloyd George seeks to impose these re-
strictions to safeguard Great Britain's
military, economic and stratetic position
as a part OF the settlement. Mr. de
Valera seems to hint he Is willing to en-
body them as parts of the treaty after
once England goes the whole way and
admits Ireland's right TO control these
things her sovereign self. 1t Is freely
predicted here tonight that settle
ment will be reached In this connection.
The Sim Fein seems to object that
these restrictions are imposed. whereas
they are not imposed In other dominions.
and declare that they show the utter
inadequacy of the whole dominion sta
tus. and that If the other dominions
were as near England as is Ireland they,
too. would object to similar oppressive
denials of their rights.
But it Is this class OF argument with
which many influential Sim Fein sup
porters have little patience. BY this It
is not meant that there Is any split In
the Sim Fein's own close knit ranks.
They stand together, and whatever dis
agreements and arguments take place In
the round room in the Mansion House
tomorrow the result will be presented
In the form of a solid official front. It
Is the vast mass of unofficial ."Republi-
cans" that is restive under such logic.
Foreign Bonds big Issue.
The care with which the Dali Eireann
must proceed in Its decision may be
realized when II Is remembered how
MANY Irish Republican bonds were sold
In the United States and elsewhere under
the Sim Fein guarantee to redeem them
upon the creation of the Irish Republic.
1t Is fully realized that most OF these
subscriptions came purely as gifts. but
the Sim Fein conscience is one OF
fanatic purism and the leaders believe
they must find an extremely cogent
way out If they are to compromise
short Of their formal written pledges.
That is one reason for the necessity for
delay
The danger In delay IS In the re-
port that the truce may end and this
makes the fghting men on both sides
nervous. The military and the police
openly assert they do not believe the
Irieh Republican army will stick to Its
bargain and give forty-eight hours
notice Of the end Of the truce. They
fear a surprise coup, and many of them
already are carrying arms. officers.
however. arc trying to discourage this.
Much the Same psychology is present
10 a lesser degree on the other side. II
this uncertainty persists much longer
another atrocity in Ulster might set
the whole train ahame.
Despite the hard tone contained In
some OF the phrases In the letters by
Lloyd George and De Valera. each side
shows n notable disposition to put the
best face possible on its opponents
language, recognizing that much of II
vas for home consumption. Likewise
the Sim Fein announcement to-day that
most Of its messages from partisans
encourage stiffness must be read In the
same light the readers knowing full
well that It is the ''eat 'em alive" boys
and girls-who hasten to telegraph 10
the Mansion House under such circum-
stances.