FOR IRISH PEACE

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 38, 13 August 1921, Page 5

FOR IRISH PEACE

CABINET MEETS TO-DAY

TO CONSIDER DE VALERA'S REPLY OPTIMISM REGARDING A SETTLEMENT. (wniro mis association .-comiuw.) (AVSTIUI.IAM - NET ZJAIATO CAILI ASSOCIATION.) (Received August 13, 9.30 a.m.) j LONDON, 12th August. The Viceroy !of Ireland (Lord Fitzalan) -and General M'Cready (Commandant of the Forces) have left Dublin for London. Cabinet will meet on Saturday to discnsß Mr. de Valera's reply, which is variously stated on the one hand to contain nothing calling Mr. Lloyd George urgently to London, and on the other hand that Mr. de Valera demands a complete amnesty for three thousand Sinn Feiners now detained, which is a matter of the gravest importance, necessitating Mr. Lloyd George's presence in London. . .. ' The Daily Chronicle's lobbyist says that Sinn Fein regards the Government's offer as generous, which should form the basis of further negotiations.

LONDON, 11th August.

The Star interviewed Mr. Macartney, an'intimate friend of Mr. Collins and the other Sinn Fein leaders.! When asked, "Is a settlement coming?" Mr. Macartney replied, "Of course it is. Dublin has no doubt about it, nor Mr. de Valera, Mr. Collins, nor any other of the leaders." Mr. Macartney does not expect a final settlement before spring, but the Sinn Feiners a^e going to accept Mr. Lloyd George's proposals with certain reservations. The leaders i-ecognise that the proposals are most generous, affording a basis for further negotiations. Mi 1. Macartney anticipates ■ that when the proposals are disclosed they will cause a-.great cry from one wing of <the British Unionists. They are practically identical with what the British Government submitted to Sinn Fein two years ago. Mr. Lloyd George's plan was ]to give the North and South control of the militia, but' Federal regiments would co-exist in each province. Sinn Fein would prefer separation, but Mr. de Valera and Mr. Collins know they must be content with less.