The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-07-09
POLICE FUNCTIONS
 TAKEN FROM SOLDIERS

Continued from Page One) the Sim F'ein and government forces, the truce which is to go into effect officially at noon Monday was vir- greater part of Erin.
 De Valera arrived at the Mansion House early and immediately con ferred with the heads of the Irish Republican army about arrangements for making the truce effective Mon day noon.
 It is believed that all Irish political prisoners will soon be released, the curew revoked and court martials be stopped
 Gen. Collins, commander in chief of the Sim F'ein army, undertook to reach the remotest districts of Erin with instructions that hostilities must cease all over Ireland before noon Monday. Orders to this effect were pouring out over the wires through out the island and are being taken by courier to the remote regions where there is no telegraph.
 Troop movements of crown forces have practically ceased. For the first time in years streets of the capital were not patro1led by government troops today. The city, which even yesterday still had the aspect of ;t forbidding military camp was permeated today with an atmos- phere of friendliness and peace such
 
 generation of inhabitants. The thoroughfares and public squares were devoid of the usual squads of heavily armed British sol diers to be jeered at by hostile crowds.
 Indeed, so wondrous is the change in the population's temper that today Sim Feiners were seen openly fra ternizing with British soldiers. The general feeling in well inform ed circles here today was that a week will be sufficient to complete the pre- liminaries of the conference in Lon don which is to decide whether the truce will be followed by permanent peace.
 Both the inn Fein and Unionist section of the Irish press were strongly optimistic today as to the outcome of the negotiations. London, July 9-Premier Lloyd Geroge will accept Eamonn De Valera's proposal and meet the Irish basis for a formal conference. The meeting will probably occur next week.
 The Irish office stated this afternoon | that Eamonn De Valera had issued instructions to his supporters to discontinue military maneouvers of 1 all kinds.
 The only thing remaining is the | fixing of the date which MT. Lloyd GeOrSe VIII name Tn ms reply to MT. | De Valera's letter.
 The government is subordinating | all other problems of state to the question of Irish peace, and is bend | ing every effort towards preparations | for the meeting.
 | The instructions from MT. deValera the Irish office said, also were to pro- ! hibit the use of arms. to abstain from lintefrenece with public or private | property ,and to discountenance and prevent action likely to cause disturb ance of the peace which might neceS- Sitate military interference. 1 The instructions, it was added, were effective from noon on Monday | An ari of the greatest optimism this morning pervaded No. 10 Downing street, the premier's official residence and the Irish office, where the beliei was freely voiced that there wa: every reason to hope that the blood shed in Ireland was nearing an end. l King George today received Loro 1 Middleton in audience. The SoutherI | Unionist delegate attended yester l days history-making Irish armistice | conferences at Dublin and hastene6 l to London over night for the purpose it is believed, of reporting personally | to the monarch.