The situation is now such that Mr. De Valera is
bound to answer Yes or No to the proposal of this " conference on one condition." It would be difficult to say on our present informa- tion whether the Cabinet has or has not in fact made a further concession, but on the whole we imagine that the condition about partnership in the Empire has been used merely to simplify the situation, and as far as possible to meet Mr. De Valera's suggestion of " no conditions " except some vague guiding principle. The original six conditions mentioned by Mr. Lloyd George have not, we suppose, been abrogated, SS they are naturally points which the Government will bring up when the
talking begins. We can understand, therefore, why the
Government have not thought it desirable to mention the position of North-East Ireland, which is the crux of the whole problem.
