PEACE FOR IRELAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3514, 19 July 1921, Page 15

PEACE FOR IRELAND.

ULSTER UNCOMPROMISING. LONDON, July 12. Speaking at the 12th of July demonstration, Sir James Craig said that peace in Northern Ireland rested with him, and they were going to have peace in Northern Ireland. They were going to enforce peace if it did not come naturally. On Dehalf of the Ulster people, they were prepared to say “No Republic ! No tam- ; pering with Ulster.” Mr De Valera must j therefore turn his attention in some other ; direction. DOMINION HOME RULE. LONDON, July 12. The Sinn Fein leaders have arrived in London. It is understood that the Government is willing to defray the expenses of the I)e Valera delegation, but the offer has been deferred owing to a desire to leave the Sinn Fein leaders full liberty of action, and to avoid rousing suspicions in ; the formal conferences which will precede | the formal meeting. It is understood that Mr Lloyd George favours General Smuts’s plan oi' Dominion Home Rule on the South African pattern with a privileged position for Ulster like that of Natal in the Union Constitution. It is reported that owing: to the great personal efforts of the King to secure peace, the Ulster opposition has been partially modified. Thousands paraded the principal thoroughfares in Dublin throughout the night, joyously celebrating the truce. Bonfires blazed in the side streets, and crowds sang old Irish songs and cheered the British troops, the Republic, and the Irish Republican Army. MR DE VALERA IN LONDON. LONDON, July 12. Messrs De Valera and Griffith were welcomed at Euston Station by a crowd of 3000 Irishmen, who rushed the platform as the train steamed in and waved Irish flags. A small party of police, however, assisted the delegation into a motor car which was waiting. Mr De Valera was almost overcome in the scrimmage, and. was too exhausted to make a speech. A woman made strenuous efforts to kiss Mr De Valera, but the police prevented her from doing so. Mr De Valera said that he had no details of the arrangements for the conference, but there was hope of a final settlement of Ireland’s troubles. Mr De Valera drove off to the Grosver.or Tlrtel, followed by a procession of taxi cabs containing pressmen, photographers. and kinerna operators. One enterprising young gentleman fixed the tripod of his camera on top of a taxi which followed Mr De Valera’s car, and thus photographed the journey through London. The route led past Buckingham Palace. Mr De Valera declined to be interviewed though he posed with Messrs Griffith and Barton, Count Plunked, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin to a kinerna operator in the conservatory of the hotel. A member of Mr De Valera’s entourage says that Thursday's meeting with the Prime Minister is merelv to ascertain if a basis exists which will justify a more formal conference. July 13. Mr De Valera has issued the following message : —“There is no reason why the people of these islands should continue at enmity. It is simply a question of whether or not we recognise justice as a necessarv foundation of peace.” Tile Earl of Bandon, who was held prisoner by the rebels, lias been released. PREPARING FOR BUSINESS. LONDON, July 13. Mr De Valera and the other Irish delegates have rented a handsome drawingroom suite in the Grosvenor Hotel for private conferences. The approaches are guarded by members of the London branch of the Self-determination League, who receive callers with perfect courtesy, but resolutely bar access to the President. The Sinn Fein delegates, and fol- j lowers scrupulously employ the presi- i dential title. Mr De Valera maintains i an attitude of dignity, aloofness, and re- j serve as the Irish President, and im- j passively ignores the noisy demonstrators j and the ardent sympathisers waiting in | thq hotel vestibule. i SOUTHE R N P A R LI A A! F. N T. LONDON, July 13. Only two members of the House of Commons and 13 Senators were present at the adjourned sessions of the Southern Parliament. The Senate passed a resolution thanking the King for nis message at the opening of Parliament, which by the blessing of the Almighty had made the present situation in Ireland possible. ATMOSPHERE RIGHT FOR PEACE. LONDON July 14. Official: Mr Lloyd George and Mr De Valera had a free exchange of views relative to the position which has been already defined. Tho conversation will be resumed tomorrow. Mr Do Valera spent yesterday quietly seeing his English supporters. The delegation will meet Mr Lloyd George at 4.30 this afternoon in the Cabinet room in Downing street. —A. and N.Z. Cable. Mr De Valera, interviewed, said : “I am sure that the atmosphere is right in England and in Ireland for peace. The only thing necessary is that we should get dorwn to rock bottom. The moment is not opportune for me to speak freely. Judging from what I read in the English

newspapers, no country in the world needs more to understand and be enlightened on the importance of the Irish question and on the logic and right of our case than England.”

SIR JAMES CRAIG TO ATTEND CONFERENCE. LONDON, July 14. Mr Lloyd George and Mr De Valera had a conference alone this afternoon. Sir Jas. Craig will join the conference to-morrow. On receiving a telegram from Mr Lloyd George he left Belfast immediately for London. The meeting between Messrs De Valera, Barton, and Arthur O’Brien (Sinn Fein delegates), and Mr Lloyd George, lasted two hours and a-half. the result has not been announced. Whitehall was crowded and the delegation had an enthusiastic reception from Irishmen present. At the entrance to Downing street many knelt as the delegates passed. They recited the rosary and sang hymns. Dublin Castle has received no reports of outrages, thus showing that the truce is being loyally observed. PRIME MINISTER HOPEFUL. LONDON, July 14. Mr Lloyd George unexpectedly attended a dinner in honour of Mr C. A. JvFCurdy, who was formerly Minister of Food Control. He was received with acclamation by the 600 persons present. Mr Lloyd George said that he had reported the proceedings at the conference with Air De Valera to the King, through whose intervention so much Had been made possible. The King must be given credit for having done one of the greatest services to the world.—(Applause.) . Air Lloyd George proceeded to discuss the future of the Coalition. He twitted the Independent Liberals with not desiring a general election. There had been a remarkable change in the last few weeks. The human tempest seemed subsiding. There was a spirit of conciliation in the industrial world, and a better outlook between employers and workers. There was also a remarkable transformation in Ireland ; but the less said about that the better.—(Shouts : “Go on.”) Air Lloyd George: “No; you must not tempt me to indiscretions at this juncture, but it is a fact that Air De Valera, the chieftain of the vast majority of the Irish, has been in conference with the British Prime .Minister discussing methods and suggestions for a settlement of the long, bitter, and wasteful feud. They will meet again to-morrow, and it is hoped that they will secure peace.’’—(Loud cheers.) Air Lloyd George continued : “The less said about the remarkable transformation in Ireland the better at present, but this is a remarkable fact : that Air De Valera, the chieftain of the vast majority of the Irish race, has been in conference for nearly three hours with the Prime Minister of this country cLceussing various methods and suggestions for a settlement of the Jong controversy between the Irish and the British peoples, and the old bitter, wasteful feud wherein for ages there has been a catalogue of disastrous blunders and endless opportunities lost. Let us trust tliat the present opportunity will not be lost.” A REPORT DENIED. LONDON, .July 14. Lord Midleton denies the Morning Post’s statement that he and De Valera had provisionally agreed upon the terms to be demanded of the British Government. Dominion Home Rule. Lord Midleton says that this question was not discussed at the meeting. The Sinn Fein has issued a similar denial. AIR DF VALERA’S COMPROMISE. LONDON, July 16. It is reported that the crux of Air De Valera s compromise is a demand for an Irish constitution on Canadian lines, by which Ulster would have the all-governino-powers it wants, provided they are de” rived from a central Irish Government. Apparently Air De Valera wishes Air Lloyd George and himself to come to an agreement, leaving it to Mr Lloyd George then to settle with Ulster. Mr De Valera has also made it plain that he must submit any scheme for ratification to the Hail Eireann. Air De Valera has, however, intimated that he is prepared to "ive Ulster at least tho powers enioved under the Home Rule Act. Air TJoyd George and De Valera conversed for 80 minutes to-day, the Prime Minis'er having previously conferred with hit' Kumar Greenwood and Lord Curzon. It i- officially stated tint the conversation will be resumed on Monday. SIR JAMES CRAIG IN LONDON. . . J^' ' N ‘ *N. J uly 15. hollowing a communication from Sir James Craig (Premier of Northern Ireland), several members of the Ulster Cabinet have left Belfast for London to attend the Irish Conference. A later message states that Sir James Craig has reached London. He will confer with the Prime Minister, who will inform him and the Cabinet of the discussions and the proposals interchanged with Mr De Valera. A AIJ iRr CA N RESOLUTIONS. WASHINGTON, July 14. Senators La Collette and Norris asked the Foreign Relations Committee not to take action on their respective resolutions asking for the recognition of Irish independence and protesting against Great Britain’s violation of the land warfare laws in Ireland pending the outcome of the negotiations between Air De Valera and Mr Lloyd George, but they declared they wcill press for action if negotiations fail.

SINN FEINER RELEASED. LONDON, July 16.

Air Desmond Fitzgerald, the Sinn Fein AJinister of Propaganda, has been released after 12 months’ internment at Curragh. He proceeded to London to join Air De Valera.

TREASON AND FELONY. LONDON, July 16. Three Sinn Feiners at Alanchester were found guilty of treason and felony, and were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. Another was sentenced to 10 rears, four to seven years, five to five years, one to three years, and two were acquitted. RIOTERS IN BELFAST. LONDON, July 12. The 12th of July celebrations in Belfast were the largest for many years. Forty thousand Orangemen marched in piocession. Good order prevailed. Sir James Craig addressed the meeting, which passed a resolution of loyalty. The night passed fairly quietly in Belfast. There were a couple of hursts of shooting, but nobody was hurt. Two spirit and grocery stores were looted and burnt. On the eve of the truce at Castle Island, near Tralee, a pitched battle took place between the military patrol and the Republicans, resulting m 11 being killed and many wounded. July 13. Rioting took place in Belfast this afternoon. Three civilians were sent to hospital suffering from gunshot wounds, and two policemen were injured. July 14. There was serious fighting between L nionists and the police in Belfast yesterday. Four persons, including a constable, were injured. The lighting continued until the police were compelled to fire on the mob. A girl named Kennedy was shot dead at Belfast. It is believed that she was killed by a sniper. Sniping was renewed this morning. Revolver firing continued in the York Street district of Belfast to -night. A 14-year-old girl was killed, and two poJce and two civilians wounded, including William Grey, Labour Unionist member for North-west Belfast, who was shot in the chest. July 15. Further rioting occurred in Belfast late last night. One person was killed and 30 or 40 wounded. A licensed house was looted and burnt. There was much shop looting. Owing to the continued disturbances in Belfast a battalion of Seaforth Highlanders has arrived in the city. Friday passed peacefully in Belfast, except for the burning of a public-house. July 16. The Belfast police were again attacked to-day. The military are patrolling the disturbed area, the Somersets being brought in. Meauwhiie the military are conferring with the police and civilian authorities.