IRISH PEACE SCHEMES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 111, 11 May 1923, Page 7

IRISH PEACE SCHEMES

ARMS BONE OF CONTENTION

DE VALERA. WANTS HIS

WEAPONS,

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 9th May.

President Cosgrave announced in the Dail Eireann a breakdown of the negotiations between the Free State and de Valera. According to the President's statement, de Valera requested Senators Tennyson and Douglas to meet-him to discuss peace, but the President refuged to allow a personal conference, and a document embodying the Government's terms was submitted to de Valera. The conditions were:—

(1) All political issues to be decided) by a majority vote of the elected representatives of the people.

(2) AH lethal weapons in the country to be under the control of the Executive.

(3) The surrender of arms to be preliminary to the release of prisoners, who must subscribe to the first two conditions.

In reply, de V&lera reiterijtwl his declaration of 27th April, and submitted an amendment that a General Election be held not later than 15th September, 1 pending which the arms in the hands of Free State troops should be under strict supervision and control, while the Republican forces should have a suitable building in each province for the storage of their arms.

President Cosgrave said the Government yesterday had considered this document, and had sent a reply that the question of the oath could not be considered, and the' effective control of arms would be insisted upon. The Government was prepared to' invite bishops to act through' the local clergy as intermediaries for the collection of arms.

President Ocsgrave added that once the arms had been handed in the prisoners who accepted the terms would be released. De Valera had replied expressing disappointment at tile Government's reply, saying: "I have been met by a rigid insistence upon a condition which is impracticable and unfair." De Valera had-beeni given until Wednesday to accept" the term*, and had not donajso.