IRISH HOPE DASHED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17889, 17 September 1921, Page 7

IRISH HOPE DASHED.

W CONFERENCE. !

riANCELLED B¥ PREMIER.

DAIL RAISES OBSTACLE.

CLAIM TO SOVEREIGNTY.

IMPOSSIBLE BASIS. By lietegTanh ABsoeis.ikm—Copyright (Received 7.30 pan-) . 'A. mo* N.Z. LONDON, Sept. 15. Th 6 reply of Eamonn de Valera to Mr. Lloyd George's last letter declares the jrillingness of the Daii Eireann to rater into negotiations with the British Cabinet, but only as a. sovereign State.

It is officially announced that the confflr'nce at Inverness, proposed for September 20, has been cancelled. Mr. l.loyd George has telegraphed to De Valera that the reiteration of the claim ■to negotiate as an independent State makes a conference impossible.

The developments of the Irish situation have surprised newspapers and political circles. Some newspapers regard De \ a]era's letter as a final rejection of the Government's offer, but- believing that ii,a Irish people are overwhelmingly in favour of acceptance, suggest that a plebiscite be taken. It is pointed out that the Dail Eireann was elected before ihe British offer was made, and therefore it has no mandate to reject it. Irish opinion expressed, in Sinn Fein newspapers, strongly advocated acceptance throughout the negotiations. Reports from Dublin are hopeful. It is --inted out that De Valera's letter does not definitely lay down that acceptance of the claim of sovereign independence must precede a conference. Dublin believes that Mr. Lloyd George will find a way out, as he is too astute to allow Sitin Fein to place upon him the responsibility of closing the door to peace. The appointment of plenipotentiaries by the P=iil Eireann to attend the conference before Mr. Lloyd George received its letter is regarded lis a clever move to that Sinn Fein is not responsible for a rupture of negotiations.