THE IRISH CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18348, 12 September 1921, Page 5

THE IRISH CRISIS

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. PRIME MINSSTER'S LETTER. THE PEESS OPTIMISTIC. Press Jueociation— By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 9. English and Irish newspaper opinion generally approves of Mr Lloyd George's letter. 'All quarters anticipate that Sinn Fein will accept an invitation to the conference. The general tone of the comment is decidedly optimistic. Frfoeman's Journal says that the reply is encouraging in many respects. It opens the door wider than ever, and subjects every issue to discussion. In such a conference as that proposed it would be open to raise the subject of guarantees on' any point in which Irish freedom may be considered to be prejudiced by the proposals. The form of invitation gets rid of all embarrassing conditions and limitations on discussion.. Freeman's Journal strongly advises that the only method of settling the matter will be an ordinary round-tho-table conference, when all misinterpretation and misrepresentation can best bo set right. The Irish News says that a general feeling prevails that the Irish delegates will meet the Cabinet at Inverness.

The Irish Independent secs no reason why statesmanship should not. succeed in hammering out sentiment. The Belfast Newsletter says: “ The reopening of the door to the conference which Sinn Fein itself closed is good statesmanship on the principle of giving sinn lein all the rope it needs.’-’ The Irish Times declares: “If the offer is rejected we shall find in that calamity a minute grain of consolation. The whole wide world will know that men who could spurn the nation’s greatest opportunity since the days of Henry II are unfit to rule this or any other country.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.

PRIVATE SESSION OP DAIL EIREANN.

LONDON, September 9. A privatfc session of Dail Eireann has been summoned for Wednesday.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ] WHAT SEPARATION MEANS. IRISHMEN BECOME FOREIGNERS. SIR CONAN DOYLE'S WARNLNG. LONDON, September 9. Sir Conan Doyle, in a letter, suggests that men and women of Irish extraction who have been supporters of Home Rule, but who do_ not wish to be made foreigners in the British Empire, ehould petition Mr De Valera. He says he docs not think that If ishmen'realise that separation would make them foreigners in an Empire which Irish soldiers and colonists had helped to build. Their status in Australia and India would be the same as that of Russian Slovaks; "I am sure," he said, "that many of us who are of Irish extraction and who supported Home Rule view such a position with horror."—Times. THE PROPOSED CONFEREMCE. DAIL EIREANN'S ACCEPTANCE RUMOURED.

' < LONDON, September 11. (Received Sept. 11, at 11.5 p.m.’l It is generally believed among the Dublin Sinn Foiners that the invitation to the conference at Inverness -will be accepted. It is rumoured in Dublin that Mr De Valera is sending Mr Lloyd George an acceptance of the invitation to a conference before the meeting of the Dail Eircann on Wednesday, when plenipotentiaries will be appointed.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

INTERNMENT CAMP SENSATION. -ESCAPE OF SINN FEINERS. SECRET TUNNEL CONSTRUCTED. LONDON, September 10. (Received Sept. 11, at 5.5 p.m.) Over 40 Sinn Fein prisoners who were in an internment camp near The Curragh escaped by a secret tunnel which the prisoners dug beneath their huts. Working night after night they completed the tunnel beyond the limits of the calnp. They cleverly concealed the debris which they removed, and propped up the sides of the underground passage with wood from the floors of the huts, finally escaping during a concert which the other prisoners were giving in the camp and which a number of guards were enjoying. The escapees are now in the heart of the neighbouring hills. No arrests have been made!—A. and N.Z. Cable.