davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1921-12-25

proeress toward Irish unity and Ango-Irish recon-
ciliation could be made. Parliament accepted this
view and act creating the two parllaments was
carried in July. 1920.
Slim Fem however. repudiated the home rule
bill as being incompatible with a republic. Ma
tionaist opinion repudiated it on the ground that
it involved the partition of Ireland The lntroduc-
tion of home rule, therefore, became the senal
for the opening of an unrestricted Campaign ol
violence for republic.
In view of the negotiations now proceeding
nothing but harm could come from detailed con-
sideraton of the events of the ensuing year The
methods adopted by Sim Fein have been described
by their opponents the brutal and cold-blooded
assassination by civilians of policemen ana SOL
diers and the terrorization of all lrlShmen INTO
co-operation with themselves. Sim Fem nave
justified their methods the ground that they
were not recognized belligerents and that they
were the only methods by which they could nope
their end.
BY the middle of 1920 Sim F'en were so near
to success that the police practically confined
to barracks, and Sim Fein courts were operating
everywhere, The British government were 1aceo
with the choice between surrender and war Lloyd
George was absolutely against yielding to such
methods as Sim Fein had employed, and considered
that no settlement possible until 1t had been
proved that such methods could not succeed. He'
therefore, decided that special powers must pe
eiven to military and police such would enable
them to deal with the Sim Fein campaign. Hence
the Black and Tans. Here again their enemies
describe their operations as brutal and mliltarlst
campaign of repression against a people rightly
struggling to be free while their friends JUSTIFY
them as absolutely essential if the unity of the
empire was to be preserved and if law and order
were not everywhere to be at the mercy OF those
willing to use assassination as a weapon
The campaign on neither side was decisive by
the spring of this year. 1t was clear that Sim
Fein could not secure republic or an united Ire
land by force But it was also clear that if the
British government was to succeed in putting down
Sim Fein new resources must be raised. The only
alternative to an intensified campaign was that an
attempt should be made to reach settlement by
consent Lloyd George, after some hesitation. de-
cided that the time ripe to make this attempt
The visit of the king Belfast to the north
ern parliament created the opportunity. The king
made an appeal that. everybody should forgive
and forget" The government followed it up by
an invitation to De Valera, as chosen representa-
tive of the Irish people," and to Sir James Craig,
as representative of the Ulstermen. to come to
conferences 10 see IL a way of peace could not be
fonifd ~. s,'s, 'sss-se - ~ ~ 49,.
Evening star., 1921-12-25

The second was that a new attempt should be
made to induce all parties to settle the Irish ques
ton once for all. Lloyd George. the point of
starting for Russia, on the journey when Lord
Kitchener drowned. was deputed as the obvious
man to try to negotiate an agreement. In very
short time he had secured the consent of the Irish
parties to compromise whereby the home rule
act to be brought into force Immediately for
twenty-six counties. while the six counties of Ulster
to be excluded. He has always held that If
this agreement had been forced through. the Irish
problem might have been solved during the war.
But disputes to the duration of the COM
promise. objections were raised some of its
provisions, there was no firm will at the head of
affairs to force the agreement through, and the
negotiations failed.
X X
But the rebellion was a turning point in Ire
land The exhibition of reckless courage in the
street fighting in Dublin and the execution of the
seventeen leaders had revived the memories of
cient wrongs and stirred the youth of the country
with a new spirit of independence. The failure of
the negotiations added strength to the Sim Fein
movement. Recruiting for the imperial army fell
away and the old nationalist leaders began to find
their authority on the wane. ',
When Lloyd George became prime minister he
made an immediate attempt to bring about settle
ment He made offer. either to bring the home
rule act into force at but excluding six Ulster
counties or to set up convention of represent
ative Irishmen to try to find a solution. the
understanding that if the convention reached SUBJ
stantial agreement any solution leaving Ireland
within the empire the government would pass it
into law. Redmond rejected the first and accepted
the convention, and in the middle of 1917 it began
it's sessions
X X X
The convention failed. To begin with, Sim
Fein refused to send representatives thus leaving
the strongest movement in Ireland unrepresented.
On the other hand, the Ulster representatives.
while they attended, were very uncompromising
and issued an unyelding minority report. And in
the end the nationalist members split into two
bodies, signing different reports
During it's deliberations came the German often
sive Of March Fl, 1918. In the desperate necessity
of the time the British parliament passed
conscription act, calling every able-bodied man
from eighteen to fifty to the colors Public opin-
ion-already tested to the utmost-was restive at
the idea that boys and old men should go to the
trenches from Great Britain while young
idled in Ireland or toyed with plans for
German landing ireland had been exempted from
the first CONSUMPTION act. She was included in
the second.
Immediately the Sim Fsin leaders and the
Evening star., 1921-12-25

Roman Catholic hierarchy made common cause to
defeat it, They met at Maynooth and manfestos
issued in the name of both calling upon the
people to resist the application of the act Lloyd
George felt that there were not the troops left
to enforce the act-every available man being in
France-the German thrust had been stayed. the
American troops were pouring over. the desperate
need passed. and the cabinet decided to allow
the act to remain dead letter far Ireland
concerned.
Things now drifted steadily from bad to worse
The Sim Fein movement swallowed up everything
else Young Ireland and the younger clergy swung
steadily to the left. They sympathzed openly with
Germany Trey repudiated utterly the constitu-
tional methods of the nationalsts. and preached
the only solution of the Irish problem. Inc
results clearly seen at the elections in Novem-
ber, 1918. Sim Fein swept the country every
where outside Protestant Ulster. The nationalists
had, to all intents and purposes. disappeared save
for few who got in under an agreement with
Sim Fein in the Ulster counties
Sim Fein's policy to win an Independent
republic. 1t had hopes of the Paris confer
ence but these were early dispelled. 1t then pre-
pared to it's object by trial of strength
1t began to organize the Irish republican army. 1t
raised funds in the United States 1t attempted
first in one way and then in another to challenge
the machinery of British government in Ireland
Meanwhile Lloyd Georges energies were concen-
trated on the peace conference in Paris until the
autumn of 1919. On his return, however, the cabi-
net set to work to consider a settlement OIL the
Irish question. .,....
At Christmas Lloyd George announced his plans.
He proposed a new home rule BILL designed to
meet what he regarded the three essential ele-
ments in the situation-the first was that British
opinion would not tolerate the separation of ireland
from the empire the second was that Irish nation
alist opinion would not tolerate Ireland being gov
erned from Westminster part of the United
fha Ulster would SINH
lary not tolerate being governed from Dublin. His
solution was a federal solution. There we're to
be two parliaments in Ireland-one for the twenty
six counties of the south, the other for the six
counties of Ulster-with council of Ireland repre-
senting both equally to adjust common affairs,
while Ireland was still to be represented by forty
six members at Westminster for imperial questions,
such as foreign affairs The two Irish parliaments
were also to have the power to unite on any terms
they chose without further reference to Great
Britain. He recommended the proposals because,
in his 1jtidgment,.it was only by starting from =
recognition of the essential facts that any faoau
Evening star., 1921-12-25
By Philip Kerr
(His Secretary, 1917-102D
LLOYD GEORGE-The Man and His Times

The subsequent history is fresh in everybody's
mind. After preliminary conversations with De
Valera Lloyd George. with the consent of his cabi-
net, invited Ireland to wipe out the past and make
friends on the bas sis of becoming a free sef-govern-
ing dominion the model of Canada or Australia
subject certain restrictions about the navy. free
trade the debt and subject also to the ret-
between Ulster and the rest of Ireland being
decided by free negotiation between the two
The whole world surprised at the boldness
of Lloyd Georges offer. For week or two there
was correspondence to its meaning. and then II
was "irrevocably' rejected by Snn Fein. This re-
lection came as a shock British opinion, and TO
public opinion abroad But Lloyd George. having
undertaken the role of peacemaker. was not to be
denied. He persisted in his efforts and. after many
weeks it gradually became known that the first
great difficulty had been overcome and that Sim
Fen was willing accept in some form other
the substance of Lloyd Georges proposal. provided
that Ulster agreed to form part of the Irish do
mnion.
Then the other great Irish difficulty, the Ulster
opposition to union with the south, came to the
front. Lloyd George proposed that this should be
solved by Ulster retaining the parliament and the
powers conferred upon it under the 1920 home rule
act, but subject certain safeguards sending rep
resentatives to al-Ireland parliament, instead
of Westminster. This proposal however, the
FISHERMEN rejected with the emphasis that
De Valera originally rejected the offer of dominion
status.
X x
There at the moment of writing the matter
stands. 1t will not be easy to find agreement
The three parties separated by the fears and
feuds of many centuries. They cannot be healed
in an hour. But if anybody find way it will
be Lloyd George. Despite his ability fighter.
perhaps because of it, he has always been con-
sumn1ate peacemaker He has settled more dis
putes political industrial and international. than
any man ahve Nobody but man of his cour-
age and decision. and with his authority
cepted head of a coalition of political parties could
have gained general support for the dominion offer.
He will certainly not fail for want of trying for
if he can heal the feud which has poisoned British
for 700 he will feel that he has achieved
work hardly less worth while than that which he
accomplished in the great war.
Copyright 1921, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)
EDITORS Note: Since this was written events
have justified Mr. Kerrs prediction that if any
could bring about peaceful settlement of the
Irish question, it would be Lloyd George]
NEXT suxDAY-Lloyd George and America
Evening star., 1921-12-25
K-Lloyd George and Ireland

ROM his earliest days as politician Lloyd
George has been ardent home ruler one
of the first speeches which brought him
L into prominence delivered in company
with Michael Davitt. in the days when to be as
sociated with Davitt was regarded almost as would
be association with Lenin and Trotsky today
Lloyd George has always been a home ruler
because as a strong Welsh nationalist. he has had
a fellow-feeng for nationalism in Ireland also.
When he came to look into Anglo-lrish history ne
saw that even overrepresentation of Ireland IN a
United Kingdom parliament would never satisfy the
fundamental Irish claim. and that nothing but
Irish self f-government could heal the ancient
wounds and create friendship and real unity be-
tween the peoples of the two isles. He was there
fore. a pa ssionate supporter of Gadstones bills
X x x x
Home rule. however. was a dormant issue from
1898 to 1911. When the question again game to
the front in that year Lloyd Georges attitude was
significant. He hotly for home rule, but from
the first day that the subject up to be dis
discussed IN the cabinet he argued that some kind
of special provision should be made for Ulster.
lie said then and he has said on countless occa-
, sons since that there possibility of uniting
Ulster and nationalist Ireland by force. He was
not concerned with abstract arguments from his
tory. He looked resolutely at the facts of the
time the facts which had to be dealt with and he
concluded that there were certain fundamental diff
ferences between the Ulstermen and the people
of the rest of Irland which would defeat any at
tempt to treat them if they, were the same.
The foremost he considered the difference
of religion AS he has often said to me: Il know
the deep feelings OF the little chapels of Wales.
The Presbyterianisr and Methodism of Ulster Is
like it, only tense because it is surrounded
p: Roma. Catholicism. 1 am convinced as I
can be that they will submit to the control
of the Roman Catholic majority in the south,
cept when their consent has been won. 1t
may be lamentable. but it is fact, and it is the
duty of statesmen to face facts" And when one
goes to Belfast and finds the children scribbling
on the walls such texts Long live William III
and the battle of the Boyne" one realizes that he
is right, and that Ireland Is still, in measure,
living in the days OF the of religion
X X X X
In addition, Lloyd George felt that the re-
Iisious division was intensified by other differ
snces. Ulster lives on industry, principally ship
building and linen weaving. whose products are
sold outside Ireland reinforced by form Of farm
ing strongly reminiscent of the Scottish lowands.
The rest of Ireland is almost entirely agricultural
Belfast the harsh but vigorous and progressive
Evening star., 1921-12-25
Belief Prevails That the u. S. Senate
Will Ratify Arms Conference Pacts

7 Then wi,en explanations were forth
coming, tide of understanding OF
Frances desires set in. AS soon as
Premier BRAND cabled assurance that
she objective of the conference would
not be defeated the country lent
friendlier ear to the French explana-
tions.
But it was a ticklish situation for
| awhile. and the omens and portents were
unfavorable to the continuation of the
! hanpy conditions existing up to that
time
1t will not be very long now until the
departing for their fatherland and the
United States will settle down 20 con-
temptation of it's own homely issues and
problems. The delegates are beginning
to SHOW signs of restiveness and are
looking up steamship schedules. The
British hoped to get away December 81,
but were compelled to cancel their reser-
vations when the French had their out
| break on capital ships. The Japanese
expect to depart en- masse by the middle
of January and other delegations will
follow soon if things go as well as eX-
! pectations now indicate.
Alter all the conference has been a
great experience for the country. sortie
| into the realm of world interests and a
distinct departure from the humdrum
prosy details of taxes. tariff, prohibition
politics and the plenitude of home af
fairs.
| Back to Main street after whirl on
! Broadway. one might say.
Well, there is one thing certain; the
! people can get just as interested and
excited over domestic questions as they
can over spheres of influence" "agen-
da," "communiques." premiers. princes
| and potentates. naval ratios and all that
, sort of thing. Mark the prediction !:
when the flags have ceased to f1utter on
! the Pan-American building and Conti-
i mental Hall and the last visiting digni-
tary has waved his farewell. the Yankee
multitude in that restless spirit which
ever inquiries Where do We go from
here?" will find things to interest at
! home.
! Then l suppose they will begin to
pick on me- Congress might be
| magined as muttering. Very likely
! it is a favorite pastime of the great
American public. and one very much
to it's liking in the years that begin
! with even numbers. such as 1922, as
the congressional elections impend.
This Congress was elected in No
vember. 1920. and came into being
lesislatively in April. 1921, 1t func-
toned in extraordinary session until
| late in the following November and
then resumed in regular session on
| the first Monday in December. Early
! in January. after the Christmas re
cess. it will get its full stride. and
! will have to do some tall stepping in
| the months preceding the fall cleo
tions will begin along about May or
June and continue up to a month
preceding the elections.
\ !: < *
| Soon after the first Of the year the
voters VIII begin to worry about
| their taXes-their income tax To be
| sure. it does not become due until
March, and is payable in quarterly in
stallme9ts, if desired, but most fore
handed folk will have it in their mind
just the same.
That is where Congress will come
in-the first test of public opinion
| upon its legislation. Watch the per-
J spiration break out on the politicians
Evening star., 1921-12-25

prov as they vision Mr.. Taxpayer
voter. and Mrs. Taxpayer-voter also.
hguring up the application of the
new law to the family pocketbook.
But why gloat over their misery?
Indications preSage considerable
discussion in Congress this winter of
the farmers bloc and possible an
tagonism to that organization. The
wise ones on Capitol Hill point out
that the "bloc' is well organized and
that the opposition consists of ele-
ments in rather fluid state, difficult
to assemble into an attacking force.
So. the friends of the bloc say that
until the other fellows organize
themselves into a compact body. will
ing and able to cast votes in the
House and Senate, they will feel pret-
ty secure in their present intrenched
position. The others may talk and
talk and inveigh, but the farmers
bloc votes, and votes count, not
speeches.
Senator Capper, recognized as one
of the leaders in Congress in all af-
fairs touching the interests of the
farmers, expressed his surprise the
other day over the indignation of the
business men who are lining up
against the bloc. He remarked that
he had thought the business interests
had for years regarded themselves as
being very close to the government
Senator Capper called attention to
letter from Otto Kahn of New York.
| ''summoning business men to rally
around the American business mems
committee and save the country from
the Vaccinations of the farm bloc.
continuing, Senator Capper said:
"In it Mr.. Kahn disclaims any intent
to form a business bloc where, l as
sumo. it has long been popularity sup
posed that business sat on the right
hand of government" He referred to
other protests against the bloc COM
ing from financial sources.
Il doubt" commented Senator Cap
per, IF one can imagine how
strangely all this reads to many peo-
pie in the west who long ago have
accepted the idea that big business
and finance is an established, highly
powerful. highly efficient political
| factor at Washington"
Evening star., 1921-12-25
BY WILL T.. KENNEDY.

HI
ACRIFICING salaries of $4,000
~ to $4,000 in private business
score or more of men, each
an expert in his own particular
line. have come to work for the De-
partment of Commerce, at salaries
of s2.75O to $1,000, as patrlouc
peace tine duty to bring about EN-
cient economic reform-"ith result
ant general prosperity-through es-
tablishment of .rhe Hoover Plan.
A considerable volume of popular be-
lief to the contrary Notwithstanding
Herbert Hoover is not super-''iah
or a towering colossus wearing
en-league boots. Rather ne Is
trained engineer with the business
vision that comes of world-"io"
exnerjence: of an analytical turn OF
mind and a highly developed gift lot
organization. SO the only magic IN
the touch with which he is beginning
to quicken American business Hes III
his truly remarkable ability 10 rap
men the right way and to get theii
working with him.
X X X
Secretary Hoover studied out hrst
what was wrong with the eSis.ihs
industrial commercial and economic
situation. Then he got the adElce
of scores of business men, Hie"ihs
the situation from all angles, as 10
how best to remedy the SITUATION
Next he said, Now, let's all worn
together to put this big thing across.
Having laid out the groundworh
of plan for development OF the
ADepartment of Commerce, a1ter cum
sulting the practical business men,
his next step was to find the right
sort Of men to help him carry out
the proeram He chose F. NJ. Felker
as his personal representative "
gather together these Hoover Help
ers," The job that Mr.. Feiker holos
known as assistant to the secre-
tary-has heretofore been looked on
as merely clerical, and carries onlS
A modest salary. Hoover wanted
particular sort of man to NIL 'hat 1op'
and to have that title because IL
would give his ssistant SuFlclehe
authority to carry through some u
the reorganization work He lookeu
for a man who might be loaned by
come organization, and who had a
h,cLyropnd of association with many
phases of industry.
Mr. Feiker was vice president OF
the McGraw-Hill Publishing Company
Of New York, publishers of trade jour-
nails He resigned that position to
come down here, on leave of absence
from his company, to work on mat
,ers of reorganization, personnel. etc.
He has been sort of contact man be-
tween business and those three bu-
reaus of the Department of Com
merce, which have the most direct
and intimate touch with business. and
which have, been enlarged and reor-
eanized t@ carry out the new con-
cent of the federal departments re-
lationS to business - census, foreign
and domestic commerce and stand
ards.
TNn finding of just the right sort
of men 10 be chiefs of the commodity
division created under he new scheme
| of organization for the bureau of
foreign and domestic commerce was
an especially difficult task. Under the
p,an of the commodities division. Mr..
Feiker had to find contact men who
were experts in different lines of
products and also who had some
foreign trade experience. In consul
! ia ton with Secretary Hoover he laid
out specifications for the work these