LONDON PRESS VIEWS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 40, 16 August 1921, Page 7

LONDON PRESS VIEWS

- REFUSAL TO DESPAIR BRITAIN CAN GIVE NO MORE. LONDON, 14th August. The English newspapers generally agree that Mr. Lloyd George's offer marks the limits of the concessions to which the Government is prepared to go. They express profound disappointment at Mr. do Valera's*reply, regarding it as tantamount to refusal. , The Times sees a. gleam of hope in the tone in which the reply is couched, and says in substance that it is a refusal, but a reasoned refusal which, seems deliberately to avoid any final rupture. The paper adds: " Since Mr. de Valera's return to Ireland extremist counsels have apparently prevailed, and have induced the leaders to put forward their visw. We refuse to despair until the Irish people and Parliament have had an opportunity of studying and weighing the reply." ; Commenting on the Irish situation, the. Daily Express says: "We refuse to believe that Mr. de Valera's communication represents the last word. It is evident that he is having trouble with his' extremist followers, and his letter expresses their views. We predict that Mr. Lloyd George's proposals will favourably affect the bulk of the Irish people. The Government has already broken its rules by going straight to the point and making a firm and final offer of all it is willingHo pay for Irish peaoe. The people of Great-Britain are intensely anxious for a friendly settlement, and are prepared to go to great lengths to realise their desire. Those lengths are reached in the Government's offer." . The Daily Telegraph says: "The only interpretation that can be put on Mr. de Valera's letter is that courage to, stand up against the extreme elements of Sinn Fein has not been found in its more responsible and better instructed leadership. * They simply restate the essentials of an impossible demand, totally ■ disregarding the advice given by GeneralSmuts in his letter. How far the Sinn Fein is removed from facing realities will be judged from th« reference to Ulster. The way remains open for the introduction of practical statesmanship into the negotiations on,the Irish side. On the side of Great Britain it is clear that the utmost that could be asked of political generosity and human goodwill has been given." /