IRELAND

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14764, 1 October 1921, Page 4

IRELAND

Mr Lloyd George, with the unanimous approval of the Cabinet, has renewed the invitation to the Sinn Fein leaders to a conference at London on October 11, "with a view to ascertaining how the association of Ireland with the community of nations known as I he British Empire may best be reconciled with Irish national aspirations." The whole tone of the Premier's communication "Is coneilitory, but it is most carefully worded, and if de Valera and his colleagues will refrain from again raising the Independent Sovereignty claim there is no reason why the conference should not be held, and if it is every friend of Ireland and the Empire will fervently hope that the ardently-desired consummation will be reached. Unfortunately, it is apparent that ihere are elements which do not desire peace. These are even now endeavouring to revive the state of affairs which obtained prior to the truce, and it is devoutly to be hoped that the untoward events in Ti&perary and Belfast will not be permitted to loom too largely on the horizon, and becloud the peace negotiations. The British Government has handled the situation with remarkable patience, and have given every possible proof of their sincere desire to reach an amicable agreement, and end an agelong feud. They arc leaving no stone unturned and no possible channel unexplored In attain an amicable settlement. If, therefore, Ih.-'r overtures are rejected the responsibility for I future events cannot be placed upon I their shoulders. It is not impossible thai lo those who hold extreme views l.hr very penerosity of the Government's offer, and the almost pleading

tone adopted by the Premier in his appeals throughout the negotiations, are indicative of conscious weakness, but this would be a very erroneous view to adopt. It is rather a case of a strong man appealing to a weakling to be reasonable and to refrain from a provocative attitude which would be tantamount to suicide.

Since the foregoing was written Mr de Valera has notifies the acceptance, of the invitation to a conference on October 11. The hope will be general that as the outcome of a full, free, and frank discussion a settlement will be reached which will mark a new era of peace and amity between the peoples of Great Britain and Ireland.