Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-08-27
Premier Reiterates Stand,
But Is Willing: for Further
Farley. =.
IRISH SURPRISED
Preserves Friendly Tone-Dont want
More War-BeliereG negotiations
Will Be Long.

London. Aug. 27.-David Lloyd
George, the British Prime Minister
,ofav sent a prompt rejoiner to the
latter of Eamorn de Valera, President
of the Irish republic, which rejected
the British Governments terms lor
peace in Ireland.
The Premier's note constituted a
firm reiteration Of the Government
former standpoint. that Ireland could
rot be permitted to withdraw from
the Empire. He said he thought ne
had made it clear in conversations ana
previous communications that the
Government "can discuss no settle
ment which involves refusal on the
part of Ireland to accept Tree. equal
and loyal partnership III the british
Commonwealth under one sovereign
Mr.. Lloyd George, IN concluding ms
note, still held open the door Tor
further negotiations with Mr.. de
Valera and his colleagues if they are
prepared to examine how far the Gov
ernment's consideration "can be re-
conciled with the aspirations you rep
resent" He declared, however, that
the Government could not ''proloAG
mere exchange of notes.
In his communication Mr.. Lloyd
George preserved the safe friendly
tone that characterized lis former
letters to Mr.. de Valera. Today he
buttressed the Governments stand
point by quotations from Irish pa
triots and Abraham Lincoln. He
warned Mr.. de Valera that needless
prolongation of the negotiations would
serve to play into the hands Of the
extremists, who, he declared, were
only anxious to wreck the negotiations
and terminate the truce.
A hopeful aspect of the situation as
it is viewed in London poIitica! cir
cles is that neither Mr.. de Valera, in
his latest communication, nor Mr.
Lloyd George has yet closed the door
on the negotiations.
Dublin, Aug. 27.-The letter OF Pre-
mier LLOYD George to Eamonn de
Valera was received i'll Dublin late
tonight. It's contents came as sur
prise to Sim Feiners. They had eX-
pected further arguments on the
claims of Ireland they raised instead
Of repetition Of the essential cond'-
tions of the British Government made
known to Mr.. de Valera at the con-
ference in Downing street month
ago.
A meeting Of the Dali Eireann was
hurriedly summoned for tomorrow
morning at II o'clock to consider the
situation.
In Dublin Castle quarters tonight
the last sentences in the Prcmler's
letter are considered as making pos
sible further meetings for discussions
of the situation with representatives
of Sim Feiners unless they regard
the words of the Premier as chal-
lenge.
There is reason to believe that the
people do noS desire a resumption of
the warfare at which the Premier
plainly hints as a possibility in case
there is delay in ending the contro-
versy. 1t is thought the fear express
ed by Mr.. Lloyd George in this re-
spect is based on reports he has re-
ceived of widespread drilling through
out the country by Sim Feiners. They
declare that they do not regard such
activity as breach of the truce, as
serting that equal activity has pre-
vailed in the military barracks and
that machine-gun practice awakcns
the Dublin citizenry every morning.
The general impression in Sim tcin
and other circles here today was that
the exchanges between Mr.. de Valera
and Mr.. Lloyd George constituted only
a new stage in the prolonged Hego-
tiations.