THE IRISH CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18350, 14 September 1921, Page 5

THE IRISH CRISIS

INVERNESS CONFERENCE. SINN FEIN ACCEPTS INVITATION. T

, CERTAIN RESERVATIONS. Preos Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 12. The Dublin correspondent of the Central News reports that a courier bearing the Dail Eireann’s answer has left for Inverness. The Dail Eireanu is accepting the invitation to the conference with certain reservations, the chief of which is connected with acknowledging allegiance to the Crown. The plenipotentiaries, who will he armed with full authority to conduct the really vital phases of the negotiations, have been chosen by Cabinet, though the Dail Eireann has not authorised them to break off negotiations without the sanction 'of the full Assembly of the Dail Eireann. Mr Arthur Griffith, Professor John

M'Neill. and Mr R. C. Barton are mentioned as the plenipotentiaries.—A. and N.Z. Cable. Doubts are expressed as to the meaning of the word ‘‘ allegiance ” in the Sinn Fein reply. It is recalled that Mr Llovd George’s letter twice pointed out that there could not he a conference if allegiance to the Crown is repudiated, but as delegates have been appointed it is assumed that the reservation will not prove vital in Mr Lloyd George’s view.— A. and N.Z. Cable. THE NATIONALIST PRESS. CONFERENCE STRONGLY FAVOURED.

LONpON, September 12. (Received Sept. 15, at 11.30 p.m.) The Dublin Nationalist press now openly and strongly favours the Inverness Conference. Freeman’s Journal, assuming that delegates are going to Inverness, says: ‘‘There is no doubt about the decision. It is what the vast majority of Irish people have been expecting, and thev will whole-heartedly approve of it.” —Times.

NORTHERN AREAS. ALLEGIANCE TO DAIL EIREANN. LONDON, September 12. (Received Sept. 15, at 11.30 p.m.) Mr De Valera received a deputation from the Derry Corporation presenting the corporation’s resolution of allegiance to the Dail Eireann by the City of Derry, thus following the example of Tyrone and Fermanagh in ah attempt to vote them* selves out of the area of the Northern Parliament. According to a Belfast message, the Ulster Cabinet, under the presidency of Sfr James Craig, conferred with the officer commanding the northern area, and at its request expressed willingness to increase the plumber of troops for the purpose of maintaining law and order.— Times.