ULSTER LEADER MEETS DE VALERA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18294, 11 July 1921, Page 7

ULSTER LEADER MEETS DE VALERA.

SIR J. CRAIG’S WARNING. PRIME MINISTER’S OFFER. (Fbou Oub Own Cobbespondent.) LONDON, May 17. Confidence in an early Irish settlement was rather exaggerated in consequence of the meeting of Mr De Valera and’ Sir J. Craig, the leader of the Ulster Unionists. But the circumstance in itself is significant. It was Mr De Valera who sought the meeting, and under conditions perfectly well understood on both sides. These were that “Ulster is not prepared ryider any circumstances whatever to give up rights and privileges which hod been granted under the (Home Rule) Act, on the one hand, and the bond of union between themselves and Great Britain and the rest of the Empire” on the other. Sir James'distinctly affirms that Mr de Viler a, ‘ 'knowing this, indicated the desirability of meeting him,” and the Ulster leader' farther states that he acceded to the request" because Sir Edward Carson and himself were determined to do all in their power, as their primary object, to secure peace in Ireland,, upon the conditions posited. Mr de Valera then accepted the conditions. Sir James Craig, speaking at Holywood, near Belfast, said Mr De Valera and the Sinn Fein Party were fully aware that no Loyalist in XTlster would for a moment consent to any Republic or to any weakening of the ties between Ulster and ’ Great Britain and the Empire. Sir James pointed out that his meeting with the Sinn Fein, leader was arranged quite apart from the Lord-Lieutenant, who was now completely away from the political arena. The Invitation to meet Mr Do Valera came like a thunderbolt to him (Sir James), and he had to make up his mind to give the messenger an immediate reply. POWER OF A CONSTITUTION.' .

“Could I,” Sir James went on, “as . the leader of the men and women of. Ulster, refuse the invitation of Mr De Valera : to meet him, and to do what I could to, bring peace to our land? It would be a heavy burden indeed for' me to go through this election campaign with the additional burden of refusing, if the chance offered, to discuss the whole future of our country and to do my little bit to try to come to some understanding yvhoreby this foul campaign of murder could be mitigated , and men brought to a better sense of their responsibilities to Cod and to man. When well-meaning people come to you ajul'ssy: 'Won't you make some sacrifice to bring matters once more to a head?’ I want you to say with one voice: ‘Bring forward your proposals, but bring them forward when we have got this contest over and when we are in a constitutional position to meet them. Wo - will then have our Parliament established and the executive responsible to it, and wo will be Minister's of the Crown able to deal with any proposals put forward.’ If I am given a powerful majority in the new Parliament I will then be in a proper position to stand up for the rights of Ulster, and to defy any authorities, whether it be the British Government or Do Yalera, to take from us our Parliament once it is rooted in Ulster soil.’’ MR DE VALERA’S STATEMENT.

Following upon his interview with Sir James Craig, Mr I)e Valera published the accompanying important message:— "We shall never cease to maintain that there is community of interest between our countrymen of the North-eastern corner of Ireland and our people of the South and West. For all their misunderstandings and prejudices—artificially created for the most part —we believe that the men of Ulster, reft from us by statute, but maintained to us by higher laws, look upon Ireland as their country, and in their hearts cherish the Irish name. In the eighteenth century Ulster felt profoundly her unity with the rest of Ireland. She will do so again. May that day be soon,” According to The Freeman’s Journal, the following definite offer from Mr Lloyd George was laid before Mr De Valera a few days ago: “I will meet Mr De Valera or any of the Irish loaders without condition on my part and without exacting promises from them. It is the only way a conclusion can be reached. The conference will lead to an exchange of opinions cut of which we may find common ground upon which we can refer to our respective people for * settlement.” THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE.

It is reported that Mr De Valera has now replied to the Premier: ‘‘The fundamental question at issue between the two countries is the question of Ireland's right to choose freely and independently her own government and political institutions at home and her relationships with foreign nations a« well. This independent right may as well be acknowledged first ns last for there oan never be a settlement ns long as it is denied. Any particular proposition put forward by Britain affecting the welfare of the peoples of the two islands will then be a fit subject for consideration and discussion between *he representatives of the respective peoples. We have never denied that we have certain interests in common, but we must be free and independent judges of what our own interests are, and not. compelled simply by Britain’s superior brute force to enter into engagements which wo may deem to be detriments! to us.”