New-York tribune., 1922-06-02
Balfour to Seek
UIster'sCOnsent
To New Parlcy
Chosen to Take PREMIER
Place at Conference With
Craig To-day in Effort TO
Bring the Irish Together
War Chiefs i'm Council
Northern Regime Appeals
Again for More Troops;
Collins Back in Dublin

r,o, The Tyibare's Eur0pe0n Bnyrnn
,.or,,tyht 1921 New York Tribune Jnc.
LONDON. June i.-Rumors tnat
British military action in Ireland was
contemplated by the government
sprung up to-day when Sir Laming
Worthington-E Evans Secretary for war
and the Earl Of Cavhn. Chief Of STAN
were summoned 70 Downing Street for
conference with Premier Lloyd
George. The only thing TO support tne
rumor was that the Premier had served
notice on the Free Staters that unless
they could control the Repuoiiean
army on the Ulster frontier, brltlsh
troops would have 10 be used.
The case for Ulster was foreibly
presented 10 Lloyd George this after
noon by Sir James Craig, Orange Pre.
nicr. and Lord Londonderry, who naa
boen summoned from Belfast LLOYD
George postponed his vacation trip %
his old home in Wales, and spent me
afternoon In various conferences. lie
told Sir James 10 come and see mn
again tomorrow and meanwhile ~
would discuss the situation with WIN
s,on Church, colonial secretary; Aus
ton Chamberlain, government leader in
tho Hou.e OF Commons. and Lord bir-
kenhead. Lord High Chancellor. The
premier's position is complicated be
cause some Of his conservative follow
ers feel that his Irish policy is
failure.
Balfour to Represent Premier
Latcr. however, It was decided that
the Earl Of Balfour would take the
Prenier's place at the Ulster con
ference tomorrow. Lord Balfour hns
not been involved so far In the Irish
negotiations, hut during Lord Curzon's
indisposition he is acting foreign sec
retary and in this capacity he Will
discuss the situation with Sir James
and Lord Londonderry. There Is
feeling in official circles that tho
Orangemen might be disposed 20 talk
moro freely with the Earl Of Balfour.
who has been n conservative all MS
life. than with Lloyd George. Churchill.
or some other Englishmen who signed
the treaty with the Free Staters and.
therefore. are regarded with some feel
ing OF suspicion. II Is felt that me
Earl OF Balfour might be able 70 in-
ducc the Orangemen 20 confer again
with the Free Staters. although how
this can bo done. in view Of Craig
flat refusal. is not plain The fe-
newal Of disorders in Belfast IS not
conducive 20 his meeting Michael Col
lins or other Free State leaders.
Holds Ulster Force Inadequate
Sir James drew a black picture Of
listers position for Lloyd George and
made n very strong impression. lie
told the Premier that the Ulster
specials must be more strongly sup
portcd by crown forces. Some appre-
citation OF the strength Of the Sim Fein
forces TO be combatted can be gained
from the fact that. although the Ulster
constables number more than 10000
and more than nineteen battalions m
British troops are concentrated IN the
north, Sir Jnmes thinks these forces
are inadequate,
When Collins returned 70 Dublin yes
,erday he carried with him Lloyd
Georges message that reputation Of
the treaty would leave the British gov
ernment free 70 act as IL saw ~, Those
who know De Valera's stubborn oppo-
sition take a gloomy view Of the future
for they do not believe that he will ac-
cent the oath OF allegiance. The fact
that the Fi'e State provisional gov
eminent disclaims responsibility for
the disorders ir Belfast and on the
Ulster frontier only served TO empha-
size the gravity Of the situation.