The New York herald., 1921-07-12
DE VALERA'S PARTY
Will MEET PREMIER
And CRAIG THURSDAY
Irish Peace Negotiations
to Be Opened in Lloyd
Georges Offices in
Downing Street.
OPTIMISM STILL RULES
Government Gives Sim
Fein Delegates Diplo-
matte Status-All Have
Prison Records.
KING CONTINUES EFFORTS
Truce Begun at Noon Amid
General Rejoicing-Soldiers
KING CONTINUES EFFORTS
Truce Begun at Noon Amid
General Rejoicing-Soldiers
Unarmed Walk Streets
Good Feeling Shown.

Special Gable to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, bv THE New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London, July IL.
Eamonn de Valera and his colleagues
will meet Premier Lloyd George and
Sir James Craig in the Premiers Of
fees in Downing Street on Thursday
to open the Irish peace negotiations.
The time at which the Irish "Presi-
dent" and his associates will cross to
England has not been announced. but
perhaps it will he tomorrow night.
ThA Sim Fejn President probably
will bring with him Arthur Griffith,
founder Of Sim Fein; Prof. John Mac
Neill, Austin Stack, Richard Barton.
and possibly E. J. Duggan. all men,
bers of the Dali Eireann, and known
as men Of cool heads and broad vision.
1t has been definitely decided that
Michael Collins, Minister of Finance
of the Republic and commander in
chief of the Irish Republican army,
will not come because 1t is considered
wise for him to keep under cover until
q decision is reached. But 1t Is known
II peace is arranged Collins, Michael
Mulcahy and other Republican army
leaders will be allowed to go free with
out answering the many charges
against them, as this will be insisted
upon in the settlement.
yr;.
ONCE have highest hopes 1T is not ex-
pected that the negotiations will termi-
nate soon. and they may drag on for
some weeks. Whatever agreement is
reached. De Valera must lay the terms
before the Dali Eireann, and then. IL ac-
cepted, there will be many intricate
financial details to be adjusted.
Confidence II Evident.
The case Is almost parallel to that
following the armistce of the great war,
when those who looked ahead never
doubted that the war was definitely
ended, but 1t took long time to adjust
a permanent peace. In this instance
both sides. however. are confident at
present that the truce in Ireland is the
beginning of a long era of peace. There
is extreme confidence that Ii will never
be broken
OF the Sim Fein delegates all have
been imprisoned at various times as
enemies of the British Empire. Griffith.
Vice-President Of the Irish Republic"
perhaps the strongest leader of the
quartet. was freed only recently in order
TO attend the Mansion House conference
Stack was arrested In 1916 in connection
with Easements landing in Kerry at the
beginning of the Irish rebellion.
Richard Barton was formerly an off,
Ger of the Dublin Fusiliers and was SEN
fenced to three years imprisonment for
seditious speech. He was released about
the same time as Griffith after serving
sixteen months. Despite their prison
terms both Griffith and Barton are now
In excellent health and are stouter and
stronger than when they were arrested.
THE NEW York HERALD correspon-
dent talked with both these men In Dub
lin last week. Neither seems to harbor
any new bitterness because of their in
generation. Both are solid men and
clear thinkers and will be a great force
behind De Valera at the council table.
King George is continuing his activi-
ties for peace. Speaking at Guernsey
to-day to disabled soldier whose name
was said to be Itish George he said:
AT last we are to have peace In Ire
land. I am doing my best"
Rejoicing over Truce.
Al noon to-day the truce began in
Ireland amid the ringing OF bells, the
sounding OF ships sirens in the harbors
and general public rejoicing.
Trrsopa xxho ha va pauar dar~a A. -
ture out unarmed walked the streets
weaponless, and mingled with the popu-
lace as X they were a part of the 10y
GUS throngs. There Is no sign of the
slightest hard feeling shown on either
side. The police we're called into the
barracks. where they handed In their
revoivers and then resumed their duties
unarmed. as Is the custom of British
police.
simultaneously with the truce there
was a full session OF the Dali Eireann
Urish Republican Parliament) at the
Mansion House in Dublin. except for
those members who are still In jail. but
including many who have been ION the
run" to escape prison for months. Col
Inns himself attended, but was careful
not to be seen. The meeting was en-
tirely devoted TO the discussion OF the
peace situation.
In contrast to the previous policy
which restricted motoring, the Govern
ment permitted Sim Feiners to use hfty
motor cars with special Identification
plates to inform the republicans in out
lying districts Of the hour at which their
activities were to cease. Tonight the
news will be spread. and the Sim Fein-
ers are confident there will be no fur
ther attacks.
Mr.. Lloyd George was cheered loudly
in the House OF Commons to-day when.
in answer to a question by Herbert AS
quith, he announced DE Valera's accept