IRISH NEGOTIATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1888, 16 September 1921, Page 5

IRISH NEGOTIATIONS.

'1 'OPTIMISM checked. . J! g|NN FEIN'S ANSWER. 1 regarded unfavourably. I" PSENT' back by premier. ;By Jeltjraph—Press Association— : . (Received 11.30 p.m.) I A. and N.Z. LONDON, Sept- IS. I'" After unanimously approving the terms :j of the Sinn Fein Cabinet's reply to Mr. 1 Lloyd George, which is still kept secret, f-thfl fail Eireann adjourned yesterday r {Lie die. IThe Australian Pics Association learns I -from well-informed circles in London that | Mr, Lloyd George, aft reading the letter banded to him by Mr. Boland and Mr.' ?McGrath, 4 '.e Sinn Fein delegates who travelled ' Gairloch yesterday, requested f r tht) envoy, :.o return the' communication i to De Valera and ask him whether that ji was Sinn Fein's last word, and if the * document could not bo amended before | presentation to the British Cabinet.

The letter was of j'uch an uncompromis- . ing character, and contained so many reservations, and so flatly opposed the idea of Ireland remaining in the Empire, that tha Prime Minister felt that tho only course was to ask Sinn Fein to reflect •in the interests of peace.

| > Tho Sinn Fein couriers had not reached ( Dublin at the time of the opening of the iDai! Eireann, and tho plenipotentiaries ; ttci'tioned in a message beiow were elected If,'a view of a possible conference,