IRISH OUTLOOK

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 22, 26 July 1920, Page 8

IRISH OUTLOOK

PREMIER'S PESSIMISM

LABOUR ATTEMPT TO INTERVENE (UNITED PRESS -ASSOCIATION.—COPiniGni.) (HEWER'S TEI.EGIUM.) (Received July 26, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, 24th July. An official report.of the deputation of the Trade ■■Union" Congress 'to the Fremier, to present the congress resolutions on the subject of,lreland, states tliat Mr. Lloyd George, in reply to the spokesman,., Mr. J..H. Thomas, said that Labour's sche/ne of Home Eule was "truncated Dominion Home Rule." It was idle to discuss 6uch a matter except with somebody who was able to deliver the goods, as the deputation was not. He saw no sign that the Sinn Fein was prepared to discuss anything except absolute independence, which was not discussable. ,

Mr. Thomas declared that the bridge between the two extremes of Irish opin-' ion could be found through the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade "Union Congress and the Irish Parliamentary Committee. Mr. Lloyd George replied :- You may know more fen I do. lam convinced that things on the other side are going to become very much worse, and very much sterner. We. cannot allow this to go on. Therefore anybody who^ is anxious for peace must act quickly." Mr. Thomas, after further discussion, said they would .again get into Uloueh with 'th'e~irisri "Trade Union Congress. He appealed to the Government • not to make the mistake of ignoring that body as ■ non^repr-esentaitive: If the Government made' a deal with the Irish. Labour Party they would solve the programme. On the subject of Poland, Mr. Thomas demanded a frank recognition of the Russian Government, and asked whether the Government was prepared to ■ enter., into .negotiations .with Russia immediately.

■ -Mr. Lloyd"George said:' "No, we in:vite":them.'.here -to discuss,' in. the first ■p"la"ce,;"pe'ace"with Eastern Europe; and once such .discussions have begun they are very apt to end in the clearing up of,, all misunderstandings.',' . .