CANCELLED

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 304, 17 September 1921, Page 7

CANCELLED

INVERNESS CONFERENCE SINN FEIN MAKES IMPOSSIBLE STIPULATION % PREMIER’S FIRM REPLY * As the Sinn Fein leaders have informed Mr; Lloyd George that only as representatives of a sovereign State are they willing to enter into a conference with the British Government, the Prime Minister has cancelled the conference at Inverness. He says that the claim put forward makes a conference impossible. ty Telegraph—Press Association — Cony right London, September 15. Official..—Tho Inverness Conference has been/cancelled. Mr. de Valera, in his reply to the Government’s invitation,.deciares Sinn Fein’s willingness to enter into a conference, but only as.representatives of a sovereign State. i. ' Mr. Lloyd George telegraphed to Mr. de Valera stating that 'the reiteration of the claim to negotiate as ah independent sovereign State makes a conference impossible. After unanimously approving the terms of the Cabinet’s reply to Mr. Lloyd George, the Dail Eireann adjourned sine die.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FATEFUL MESSAGES SINN FEIN AFFIRMS POSITION GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO RECONSIDER MATTER. i London, September 15. The following is the full text of tho Sinn Fein reply, signed by Mr. de Valera : — We have no hesitation in declaring our willingness to enter into a conference to ascertain how the association of Ireland with the Community of Nations known asy the British Empire can best bo , reconciled with I rish national aspirations. We have accordingly summoned the Dail Eireann in order to ratify the names of the ; representatives, and hope . they will be at Inverness on September 20. ' ' In this final note I deem it my duty to affirm - our position. Our nation has formally declared its independence, and itself as a Sovereign State. It is only as representatives of that State that we have any ■ authority to act on behalf of our people. As regards the principle of Government. by consent of the governed, in the very nature of things it must be tlie basis of any agreement that will achieve the purpose we have at heart, that is, the final reconciliation of dur nation with yours. We *have sug- /' gested no interpretation of that principle save its everyday interpretation. the. sense, for example,, • . in which it is understood by. plain men and women 'of the world on . January 5, 1918, when you said: "Toe setflerqent of the new Europe ' p'nfl- be b>>“C'l n ’i t ”’ch o”'mimls of reason and justice as will give some piomise of stability." Therefore ve feel that Goyornment with the consent of the gpverned in-ist be the basis of any territorial settlement in this war.” These words arejhe true answer to tlie criticism of our position which ‘your last letter put forward. The principle wns.-under- , stood then to menu the right of the,nations that bad been annexed fo JEmpires against their will to trek tbcmselxes from the grapnlingfliook. That is the sense we understand it in. Z PREMIER’S REPLY.

Mr. Llovd George telegraphed as follows ■to Mr. de Valera: — j I informed your emissaries on Tuesday that the reiteration of your claim to negotiate with His Majesty’s Government as reflresentatives of an independent sovereign State makes a conference between Us impossible. They ' brought me a letter in which you specifically reaffirm that claim, stating that your nation has formally declared its independence. I asked them to warn you of the very serious effect of such a claim, and offered to regard' the letter as undelivered, in order that voir should have time to reconsider it, Despite this intimation, yon now publish the letter -in its original form. -I must -accordingly cancel the arrangements for tho conference. I must consult my colleagues on the course of action which the new situation riecessitates. T/will commun’cate this to you--as soon as nossible, but, as I for the moment am laid up here, a few days’ delay is inevitable. Meanwhile I must make it absolutely clear that the Government cannot reconsider the position, which I stated to you. If wo accepted a conference with your delegates on the formal statement. of claim which you reaffirm. it would constitute official recognition iby the Government of Hie severance of Ireland -from tho Empire, and its' existence ns an ' independent renublie. Moreover, it would entitle yon to declare, in preference io association with othe Empire, (hat you would pnvi. sue a close association by treaty with some foreign Bower. There is only one answer possible (o such a claim. The great concessions the Government made to the feeling of your people in order to secure'a lasting settlement deserved a more generous response, hut, so far. every advance has been made by ns. You have Hot come to meet us by a single step, but merely reiterated in phrases of emphat'c- challenge all d spirit, of your original claim.

-DEVELOPMENTS CAUSE SURPRISE HOPEFUL REPORTS FROM. DUBLIN (Rec. September 16, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 16. The developments in the Irish situation have surprised the newspapers and political circles. Some newspapers regard Mr. de Valera's letter as n final reiection of the Government’s offer, but, believing that the Irish people, are overwhelmingly in favour of acceptance, lligr suggesl tliat a plebiscite le taken. It is pointed out flint the Dail Eircann was elected before the Britisji offer was made, and that therefore it hns no mandate to reject tho offer; also that .Irish opinion as expressed in Sinn Fein bewsnapers strongly advocated acceptance throughout the negotiations. File reports from Dublin are It is pointed out that Mr. de Valera’s letter does not definitely lay down that •

acceptance of the claim to sovereign independence must precede a conference. Dublin opinion believes that Mr. Lloyd George will find a. way out, as be is too astute to allow Sinn Fein to place upon him the responsibility for closing the door on peace. The Dail Eireann’s appointment of plenipotentiaries to attend the conference before Mr. Lloyd George received Mr. do Valera’s letter is regarded as a clever move to ehow that Sinn Fein is not responsible for the rupture of negoliiv tiuns.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RIOTING IN BELFAST CROWD DISPERSED BY SOLDIERS. (Rec. September 16. 5.5 p.m.) London, September 15. Rioting occurred in Vere .Street, Belfast. Revolvers were fired. Soldiers with a Lewis gun arrived, and the rioters fled. Two women were shot. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.