IRISH PEACE OFFER.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17247, 10 September 1921, Page 9

IRISH PEACE OFFER.

CONFERENCE PROPOSED. SCOPE OF DISCUSSION. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyii^ht.) (Australian and N.&. C:vble Ascocration,) 1 LONDON, September 8. Mr Lloyd George, in his reply to tho Dail Eireann, states: AVe wish to make the following observations on your letter of August 30th.: — The principle of government by the consent of tho governed is tbo foundation of British constitutional development, but we cannot accept, as the basis for a practical conference, an interpretation of that principle which commits us to any demands you might present, even to the extent of setting up a republic and repudiating the Crown. You must be aware that a conference on such a basis would be impossible. So applied, tho principle would undermine the fabric of every democratic State and drive the civilised world back to tribalism On the other'hand, we invite you to discuss our proposals on their merits. In order that you may have no doubt regarding the scope and sincerity of our intentions, it is open ■to you, at such a conference, to raise the subject of guarantees on any point on which you may consider Irish freedom is prejudiced. Tho Government i 8 loth to believe you insist on rejecting these proposals without examining them at a conference. To decline to discuss a settlement which will bestow on Ireland the fullest freedom for her national development within the Empire can only mean that you repudiate all allegiance to the Crown and all membership in the British Commonwealth. If wo are to draw this inference from your letter, then further discussion between us will serve no useful purpose, and all conferences will be vain. If, however, we mistake this inference, and your real objection is that our proposals offor Ireland less than the liberty we have described, that objection can bo explored at a conference. You will agree that this correspondence has lasted long enough. Tho Government must ask for a definite reply as t(- whether you are prepared to enter a conference and ascertain how the association of Ireland with the community of nations known as the British Empire can best be reconciled with Irish national aspirations. If, as we hope, your, answer is in the affirmative, we Buggest that the conference meet at Inverness on September 20th. Tho Dublin correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" reports that Cabinet's invitation to a conference has created an excellent impression in Dublin and the South of Ireland. While the exchanges of notes continued progress was impossible, and the temptation to score debating points blinded Irishmen to the vital issue. The Dail Eireann will immediately ba summoned .to consider the letter. The public is confident that the difficulties will bo surmounted, even if it is necessary to appeal to the country for a decision.

LABOUR CONGRESS MESSAGE. LLOYD GEORGE IN REPLY. (Roceited September 9th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 9. Mr Lloyd George, replying to the Trade Union Congress message regarding Ireland, soys:——"No one. is more opposed than , the Government to bloodshed, most of all tb a fratricidal war between citizens of the snu.e Empire, but I havo the authority of the greatest democratic statesman in history for the belief that even bloodshed is better than the disruption of a living, political organism whose strength and unity are essential to the fivedomof the world." [The message from the Trade "(Jnion Congress was as follows:—"The Irish negotiations have entered on a most critical stage. It will ho a disaster if the deep, spontaneous feelings in favour of peace which are now prevailing in the two countries are allowed to evaporate while their representatives ar> engaged in exchanging con* troversial notes. 'Hie British Government, in our opinion, should invite the representatives of the Irish people to meet them face to face at a conference. The promotion of pence involves personal negotiation in conference, in order that the British Government and the Irish leadort may escape verbal controversy intl arrive at a recognition of the realities of the problem. Termination of the negotiations would according to you, mean a resumption of hostilities in an intensified form. We declare emphatically that a new war would outrage the moral sense of the whole world, and would never receive the sanction of the British people. Th» Trad© Union Labour movement in thia country must insist on the assembly of apeace conference without delay. We believe this is the desire 6f the citizens of both countries, and -ihat, once continuous conversations supersede written communications many obstacles to reconciliation will disappear, and negotiations will be carried to a successful issue,"]

STATEMENT BY LORD NORTHCLIFIE. (Received September 9th, 7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 9. Lord NorthcliSe, referring to the Irish position, declared he could say without reservation that if the setting up of an Irish Republic within thirteen miles of Scotland and sixty miles of Wales was intended, no such Republic would be tolerated by the people at Home or-those he had met oversea.

EFFECT OF SEPARATION. STB A. CONAN DOYLE'S VIEW. (Received September lOfch, 1.5 a.to.) LONDON, September 9. Sir Arthur. Conan Doyle, in a letter to "The Times," suggests that men and women of Irish extraction, who have been supporters of Home Rule, but do not wish to be made foreigners in the British Empire, should petition Mr Do Valera. He says he does not think that Irishmen realise that separation would make them foreigners in the Empire which Irish soldiers and colonists have, helped to build. Their status in Australia or India would be the same as that of Russian Slovaks. "I am sure," he says, "that many of us who are of Irish extraction, and have supported Home Rule, would view such a position with horror."