IRISH PEACE OFFER

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17224, 15 August 1921, Page 7

IRISH PEACE OFFER

t ; MR DE VALERA'S REPLY COUNTER-PROPOSALS SUBMITTED (By Ctble—Press Association—Copyright) (AuztriCiar. and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, August 12. The "Daily Express" says that Mr Lloyd George regards Mr de Valera's letter submitting counter-proposals as-a 1 rejection of the Government's terms. - The Sinn Fein leaders are astonished at this interpretation. It is expected that Cabinet will reply to Mr de Valera on Satir-lay. In some ricirtcrs the belief is expressed that if an agreement is not reached'Mr Lloyd George will appeal to the country immediately on the question as to whether hostilities will be resumed with Ireland. Viscount Fitzalan, Viceroy of Ireland, and General Sir Nevil Macready, ' Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, have * left Dublin for London. Speaking at the launching of the Australian seaplane, General J, B. Scely hazarded the conjecture that "if there had been no Imperial Conference there would have been no settlement of the Irish question. The spectacle of the Dominions participating as sister States in Imperial crises was an invaluable object lesson, which appealed to the Irish leaders." (Received August 14th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 12. Some newspapers confirm -the report that the Government regards Mr de Valera's letter as equivalent to a rejection of the terms offered. The letter is obscurely worded, being v the handiwork'of two or three persons, but it details at length the kind of solf-Government which Sinn Fein wants. The Dublin correspondent of the "Daily News" says the letter reiterate* the demand for complete independence for Ireland, and submits proposals for international guarantees of her integrity and_ neutrality. (Received August 14th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 12.. The "Morning Post" lobbyist says the general impression is that Mr de Valera is demanding* a general- amnesty and the -withdrawal of all auxiliaries and the Royal Irish Constabulary from. Ireland, the British Government to pay all compensation for clrimsarising out of murders, woundings, and destruction of property estimated to aggregate £7,000,000. (Received August 14th, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. Mr de Valera's letter asserting Ireland's claim for complete independence, which, it was thought, Sinn Fein had Abandoned, throws back the negotiations, but there'lias been no rupture. Mr Lloyd' George's reply is expected to emphasise the point that a settlement is impossible except on the principle* embodied' in- the terms offered. Cabinet met yesterday morning. The Viceroy, Lord Fitzalan, General Sir ! NevA Macready, Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, and Major-General Tudor, Chief of the.Royal Irish Constabulary, rV attended. It is understood that Cabinet's reply to Mr. de Valera will be sent in time for the meeting of the Daii Eiieann on Tuesday. . \ - f ACCEPT DOMINION STATUS. 6SMSBAL SMUTS'S ADVICE SO , ; DE VALEEA. (Received August 14th, 11,5 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. General J. C. Smuts, Prime 'Minister of South Africa, before sailing for home -wrote to Mr de V,alera as follows: ""I have done my best to arrange a 'meatuift between you and Sir. James ' CCraig. "While he is willing to meet you ~ with Mr Lloyd George, he i \still remains unwilling to meet you in A Georgia absence. Nothing | I was Able to do or' say moved him from J .that attitude. If you request a meetjjtag, he-will reply saying, that Ulster will not be moved from the constitutional position she occupies under.exist- ' J rm JtSgjslatidn. She is satisfied with " hep present status and will not agree d£, any, change. ,-- Leave Ulster Aione. i _ "On c the other, hand, in, your Jetter ' you insist on Ulster coming into a United Ireland constitution, and that, done, jm> further progress ufcan*D&iinflde., . . y "There 1b therefore an impasse which L I.do not know bow to get over. Both !■! you and, Sir James Craig are equally ! immovable. Force as a solution of the | problem is out of the question. Both ,f on your premises and on his the process ts of* arriving at an agreement will there-; . i fore"take time. T '' ' "My conviction is that, for the present, no solution based on Ulster's on- ■» taring an Irish State can succeed. '. Any solution' on those lines will bet I;'foredoomed' I believe it to be in Ulster's interest to come in, and that fdrce of community of inter--est "over 1 ' a period of years will prove * compelling, but at present an Irish ' settlement is only, possible if Ulster is left'alone; "My strong advice to you, is to leave . Ulster alone, .concentrate on a constitution for the remaining counties, ' and* by the successful running of an Irish State, eventually bring Ulster jn. • Painful Boad to Preedom. "'"lreland is travelling the same pain- | ful >rowi is South 'Africa, but, with wisdom and? moderation! the is destinl ed to achieve success and freedom which Iwill lead inevitably to un&y. A a to that freedom yoii are called to choose •between' two\alternatives. You eay a *w republic is the true expression of na- - j'tional self-determination. - The British , ["Prime Minister has made'au offer of / f'ano&eriorm <rf freedom, namely JDomstatus,' which is working with ■complete success jn other parts of tile ! "British .League of Nations. What is i gOpd-for these ought to be good enough * For Irishmen to'say to world that they will not be satisfied ,> IWth, Domjnion f status will be to ' that sympathy which has been sfl» mainstay of tne Irish cause. ;" pf " A' Great Offer. { ll^S^he , Prime Minister-otters complete | ||&ainion status to the twenty-six % panties, subject to certain strategic f. which you are asked to j i Err' *° voluntarily as a free Domin- j

ion, and which we South Africans agreed to. "To my mind such an offer by the Prime Minister who, unlike his predecessor, is in a position to deliver the goods, is an event of unique imP anee. It is far more than was offered to the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. They accepted a far less generous offer, and from it improved their position until" South Africa became a happy, contented, and completely free country. Effective Guarantees. "I hope you will become a sister Dominion in the great circle of equal States, who will stand beside you should you need help, and protect your new rights as if they were their own, who would view any invasion or violation of your status as if it were their own, and who would mve you most effcctivo guarantees against any arbitrary interference bv the British Government. "I-am" satisfied that from the constitutional point of view a settlement of the Irish question is now possible and practicable. It is the human difficulty which remains. It is now mostly a human problem. It will be the gravest reflection on our statesmanship if this auspicious moment bo allowed to pass. You and your friends have a unique ppportunity, such as Parnell and his predecessors never had, to secure a lasting peace. I pray God that you may j be wisely guided, and that peace wil. be concluded before tempers change and another generation of strife ensues. '