The Washington times., 1920-09-02
De Valera SCOTS At
Report Britain Will
Glue Egypt Freedom
Irish President Says Sovereign
ty, II Granted, Will Have
String Attached.
~ FLOYD MACGRlFF.
International News Service.

IotofnAsaSnal News service.
NEW YORK. Sept. 2.--Grest Brit
aims reported plans for freeing
Egypt were scoffed at today by
President Esmonn de Valera. OF the
Irish Republic. who. upon request
discussed exclusively for the Inter-
national News Service the Egyptian
and Irish situations.
President de Valera said he did not
believe the report that Egypt's full
sovereignty would be granted. II
Egyptian Independence" 10 granted,
he said II would be In this form:
You will be independent but you
| must not do so and so, and 30 and so.
and SO and so, and when all that
Egypt must not do 10 subtractsd from
nominal Independence not much
be left.
"Ireisnd. too. England might say.
could be free but the British army of
| occupation must remain. Ireland. too.
might be allowed to conduct her for
eiEn AFFAIRS. but her conduct of them
must be exactly as will suit Great
Britain.
This method of deceivinE by words
10 An old one with the British. / do
not believe the Egyptians will be de-
csived by II and certainly tho Irish
people will not be deceived In any
such manner.
I'VE have for we'll over TOO years
lived side by side with the British.
and their ways are not strange to US.
KNOWS BRITAIN's Foley.
1--WE know the British Governments
policy always has been imperialistic,
that exploitation OF other lands al
ways has been England's purpose and
that she has been influenced always
by seif-interest, not generosity or
moral principles.
"In the case OF Egypt let US await
the full report Of any agreement that
may be made and then watch Eng.
lands moves"
"If England has granted a measure
| Of freedom to Egypt what effect do
you think 1t will have in the East As
regards Britain's colonies?" Mr.. de
Valera WAS asked.
81 doubt whether anything but COM
plete, unconditional independence will
satisfy the Egyptian nationalists,'
Irelsnds Sim Fein leader replied.
Temporarily, 1t may strengthen
Epgland's hand in Egypt. enabling
Ter to carry on at this difficult time.
II England retains veto power on all
issues affecting Great Britain's inter.
ests safeguarding the Suez Canal, and
80 IOTtH, Dc6lucb SCouoHIN
advantages, that Is all her imperial
policy demands for the present. Bul
II will prove nothing but a temporary
expedient. for Imperialism is doomed.
IEdia, and England's newer Eastern
annexations, as we'll as Ireland. will
have to be reckoned with"
asked President de Valera II there
was any likelihood OF an "armistice"
between Sinn Fein Ireland and the
British government.
"Never" he replied, his eyes snap
ping. There can be no talk Of settle
ment until the British army of occu-
patton is withdrawn"
Then the present terrors in Ire
land, with the British armed forces
or one side and the forces Of retalia-
tion Of the Irish Republic on the other
will go on. you thinkT
SEEK EQUALITY OF RIGHT.
"As long AZ England Is playing for
hate from Ireland she will get hate
President de Valera said. measuring
his words. "The Irish people have
time after time shown their desire
for amity. We aim for mutual un-
derstanding and good will between
the two peoples, on the basis Of
equality OF right. but we shall never
allow ourselves to be treated as q
subject people. and we shall never
permit ourselves willingly to be ex-
plotted for the beneft OF English i'm
perialism.
when England uses force in Ire
land, the reply will be force.
"When a citizen or soldier OF the
Irish nation has his rights outraged,
and his freedom taken from him for
no other reason than that he loves
his country, do you think there will
not be adequate reprisais?
you must understand that the
Irish people are engaged in a strug-
gle for their national freedom There
is in effect a state of war between
ireland and Britain"
But you are hopeless1y outclassed
in warships heavy guns. tanks and
aeroplanes," pointed out How can
you hope to win out against such
mechanical and numerical superb
"But the British will have to con-
| tend not merely with the Irish peo-
pie. but with the millions of Indians
and others who are similarly deter
domv exclaimed the Irish patriot.
SAYS CAUSE Is JUST.
"Our cause is right and Just, and
we have the opinion OF mankind with
| us. Our methods of warfare will not
he those which the enemy would
choose.
THE enemy can mass his battal-
ions. We will strike when we can,
! even II 1t has to come down to indi-
viduals. Our mon, Individually nre
not afraid to die. And for every man
we lose we shall keep and demand a
Just reckoning"
reminded President de Valera
that Premier Lloyd George, after a
fashion, had made unofficial over
lures to Sim Fein, in the hope of OBJ
taining an Irish settlement on a do
minion basis.
Just the usual playing to the gall
leries," said President De Valera,
deprecatingly. "No one who knows
Lloyd George would take him Sc
| riously when he talks about Ire