NEWS OF THE WEEK.
AGRAVE and wholly unnecessary disturbance has been caused in the progress of the Irish negotiations, which could not have been very placid in any case, by a message sent by Mr. De Valera to the Pope. It was deplorable alike in its taste and its occasion. Mr. Lloyd George in the House of Commons on Monday stated that he took a very serious view of the incident. It seemed to be quite possible that the Conference would then and there collapse. It was arranged, however, that a special committee of the Conference, consisting of the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Griffith and Mr. Michael Collins, should be formed, to try to dispose of the difficulty. There is not much else to record, as since that committee was formed it has virtually taken over the work of the whole Conference, and we know very little about its proceedings.
