The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1921-12-06
Irish Question Is Again the
Ruling Cause Of Voters
Dissatisfaction
PREMIER CONSIDERING : ts,e E.
IMMEDIATE ELECTION
Initiation of Negotiations With
DeValera Nearly Caused
a Split
Bv Charles McCann

(Cnlteu IreSS Stalk VIII oSpoAAoS" :
London, Dec: G.-Talk of an in,-
mediate general election was current
in political circles today, but the man
who has the deciding vote-Premier
Lloyd George, has, SO far, declined
to divulge his intentions.
The present parliament has an
other two years legal life-havlng
been elected in December, 1918, for
five-year term--but it is increasing
1y evident that the British premier
can not afford to let things run on
until 1923 and take his chances OF
being returned to office. n -
1t is known that Lloyd George has
been seriously considering the tactical
advantages Of an immediate election
on the Irish question but wants, to
be sure Of his ground first. An cleo
ton would not solve the Irish prob
lem, but it would clear the air, and,
according to reliable experts, give
the premier fresh lease on pohtica al
life. -s H.. .. f..
The liberalization coalition which
keeps Lloyd George in power has
shown numerous signs of cracking
lately. The coalition liberals are rap
idly being wiped out, and the union
lists, who were always in a strong
majority, have got distinctly restive.
Is The crux of the situation is, of
course. sIreland---the bane of every
British governments life for the past
on f1y NIo ,.ck ,s,
the successor to the old conservative
and Tory parties and it. owes it's ex-
istence to the Gladsonian home rule
crisis. Revolving liberals, headed by
the late "Joe" Chamberlain, formed
a liberal unionist party, whose main
plank was the retention Of Ireland
within the United Kingdom. Event
uallN the liberal label dropped into
disuse and with the old conservatives
making certain concessions to retain
these valuable recruits, + the parties
were amalgamated into a, ,copserva-
tive and unionist party, or which the
conservative is now generally
dropped. ~ ~ :
To obtain unionist support, Lloyd
George, had to pledge himself to an
Irish policy which does not permit Of
any severance of the ties of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland. The initiation Of negotia-
tions with De Valera caused much
suspicion among The unionist "die
hards" and "last ditc hers and only
the influence of Austen Chamberlain
adhered to his compact with
Lloyd George--averted an Immediate
split. Recent inspired" suggestions
that Lloyd George would not con-
slder listers refusal to meet Sim
Feln's claims to Fcrmanagh and ~
rome, or similar possible compromises,
sufficient grounds for the resump-
ton of hostilities in Ireland" have
driven these clements to d pitch of
desperation. ...'>. /. .-5..' "a. Is,>,.
The feeling is far more widespread
IN the country than has been reflected
IN the British press. Lloyd George has
had to rely on countrywide reports
from the. coalition party managers as
to the political feeling. in the con-
stituencies, not trusting the political
press, And the party managers have
had to confess that the situation has
got them guessing. An election on tho
flat question Of continuing negotia-
tons With Sim Fein would result in.
an az 4ovefwhe elming victory for LLOYD
George. But the unionfsts won't lei
the premier off as easily as that. They
VIII insist that he ''come off the
fence" and say definitely whether
ne IS making concessions to Sim Fein
which cut across the unity of the
United Kingdom, and whether he ad-
lnlts listers claim 'to remain within
the United Kingdom" whatever the
eost---civif war in Ireland.
The element in doubt is just how
far the main body Of unionist voters
are prepared to 60 in their desires
to settle the Irish question. 1T is sig.
nlficant at recent .by-elections very
Few candidates have been found will