From The Times: August 5, 1921
It was officially announced in Dublin last evening that a meeting of Dail Eireann is being summoned for August 16. It is understood that the Irish negotiations have entered upon a new phase. Mr de Valera is inviting Sir James Craig to a discussion upon Irish soil. He has, further, proposed that it should be as unconditional as his recent conversations with the Prime Minister at Downing Street. It is thought possible that Sir James Craig may refuse the invitation unless Mr de Valera is prepared to recognize the status of Northern Ireland. If he does, it will no doubt be as the result of pressure exerted by some of his Belfast followers who are opposed to any conciliatory action which might seem to weaken the Northern claim to complete independence of Southern Ireland. There are, however, more moderate counsellors among the Belfast Unionists, and it is still possible that their advice may prevail. Some of Sir James Craig’s friends in this country have also no doubt explained to him that the British public will not readily understand why the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland should refuse to meet Mr de Valera on terms which presented no difficulty to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Whatever the fears and suspicions of Belfast, this question has other than parochial bearings, and the responsibility of raising difficulties which could be construed as unreasonable would be great, and could not fail to react most prejudicially upon Ulster’s position in the eyes of this country and of the Empire. So cogent are these arguments that they will almost certainly influence the form, if not the substance, of Sir James Craig’s reply. Meanwhile the news from Southern Ireland continues to be good. Mr de Valera and Mr Arthur Griffith enjoy the support of the Sinn Fein Cabinet, and there is no reason to fear lest a meeting of the Dail Eireann should upset their authority. There are still difficulties to be surmounted, but they are difficulties between Northern and Southern Irishmen rather than between Southern Irishmen and the British Government. The truce is being preserved rigorously, and there seems to be no justification in fact for rumours that either side has been using it as a cloak for the preparation of future hostilities.
FROM THE ARCHIVE