Mr. Lloyd George returned to the charge last Saturday (Sep-
tember 17th), when he. pointed out that it would be stile to say that a conference in which the Irish delegates appeared as representatives of an independent and sovereign State would be a conference without prejudice." The mere reception of Irish delegates on such terms would constitute a formal and official recognition of Ireland's severance from the King's domains. It would, indeed, entitle Ireland to negotiate the union of Ireland with a foreign Power; - It would also enable Ireland to claim from foreign Powers, by the implicit admission of the British Govern- ment, the rights of lawful belligerents against the King. Mr. Lloyd George then repeated that he was as willing as ever to discuss with Irish delegates " how the association of Ireland with the community of nations known as the British Empire can best be reconciled with Irish national aspirations."
