18 DECEMBER 1920, Page 2

The papers of Thursday published a telegram from the Prime

Minister to Father O'Flanagan in answer to Father O'Flanagan's appeal for a truce in Ireland. The Prime Minister said that Father O'Flanagan would be enabled to visit Mr. Arthur Griffith —in prison, we suppose—and that as regards Mr. de Valera the " ordinary methods of communication were open to him." For the rest, Mr. Lloyd George expressed the hope that " the coming season of Christmas will lessen the passions which are producing the present hideous and unchristian strife, and so pave the way for those peaceable discussions with the elected representatives of the Irish people which are essential to remove the age-long misunderstandings which still estrange two peoples whose partnership is essential to one another and to civilization."