The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-09-23
PREMIER CANCELS
IRISH FARLEY
Lloyd George Again Declares
That Separation From Britain
Cannot Be Considered.
DOOR TO PEACE IS OPEN
Rebukes Sim Fein for Failure to Aid.
Asked Them to Reconsider.
Says Their Terms Are
Impossible.
DOOR TO PEACE IS OPEN

London.-The arrangements for the
proposed Irish peace conference are
cancelled, but the negotiations still
are not ruptured. That in brief Is
the story of unexpected and surpris-
ing developments.
canon De Valera, the Irish Repub-
hcan leader, having reaffirmed his
claim to enter the conference as the
representative of an independent SOW
ereign state, Premier Lloyd George
declares that such admission Is
impossible. He announces the cancel
lation Of the arrangements for con-
ference and the necessity of his con-
sulting his colleagues on the subject.
The Premier is careful not to close
the door to possible resumption of the
negotiations. On the contrary, he gives
Mr.. De Valera and his supporters
the amplest time and opportunity TO
reconsider their position.
Declaring that there was but one
answer to a claim which would be
equivalent to Great Britain's acknowl-
treaty of closer association with
"some other foreign power" he mildly
reproaches the Irish people for taking
no single step to meet the generous
advances of the British Government.
The whole tone of the letter, in fact,
reveals that the Premier still retains
hope Of some more favorable develop
ment.
The prospect is that there will be
no move now from either side for
few days. 1t is noteworthy that IN
the final exchanges the traditional
diplomatic methods of sending notes
by courier were dropped in favor of
the more expeditions telegraph lines.
The text of Mr.. Lloyd Georges re-
ply says:
l informed your emissaries who came
10 me here Tuesday that reiteration
of our claim to negotiate with His
Majesty's Government as the repre-
sentative Of an independent, and
sovereign state would make a confer
ence between us impossible.
They brought me a letter from you
In which you specifically reaifirm that
claim, stating that our nation has
formally declared its independence and
recognizes itself as a sovereign state,
and it is only, you added, as repre-
sentatives of that state and as its
chosen guardians that we have any
authority or powers to act on behalf
Of our people.
/ asked them TO warn you of the
very serious effect of such para
graph and offered to regard the letter
as not delivered to me in order that
you might have time to reconsider 1t.
Despite this intimation, you have now
published the letter in its original
form. must accordingly cancel the
arrangements for the conference next
week at Inverness and must consult
my colleagues on the course of action
this new situation necessitates. will
communicate this to you as soon as
possible, but as / am for the moment
laid up here, a few days delay Is In
evitable. Meanwhile / must make II
absolutely clear that His Majesty's
Government cannot reconsider its po-
sition, which have stated to you.
If we accepted a conference with
. your delegates on the formal state
ment of the claim which you have
reaffirmed II would constitute an
official recognition by His Majesty's
Government Of the severance Of Ire
land from the empire and Of its ex-
istence as an independent republic.
II would, moreover, entitle you 10
declare, as Of a right acknowledged by
us, that in preference to association
with the British Empire you would
pursue closer association by a treaty
with some other foreign power. There
is only one answer possible to such
a claim as that. r--a---e,-.--..-
On your part you have not come
to meet us by a single step, but have
merely reiterated in phrases Of en-
phatic challenge the letter and the
spirit Of your original claim.