Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-15
Irish Peace
Is
Still Open
Britain Offers Complete Au.
tonomy in Finances and
Defense in Negotiations
Made Public.
DeValera Urges Freedom


London. Aug. Ia. - The corre-
spondence between the British prime
minister, Mr.. Lloyd George and
canon de Valera, Irish republican
leader, made public by the British
government this evening, shows that
while shere is q deadlock On the
question of independence for Ireland.
the negotiations still are open. ..
Great Britain offered Ireland cor-
plete autonomy i'll finance anG taxa
ton, military forces for home de-
tense, her own police and among
other things control OF the Irish pos
tai service.
In his reply. to Mr.. Lloyd George,
Mr.. De Valera argued for independ4
ence and offered to submit the Ulster
questions to arbitration.
In his final letter, Mr.. Lloyd
George denied Irelard's right to Sc
cession, refused foreign arbitration
for Irish questions and expressed the
hope that Ireland would accept the
British terms, which he declared
were the best that could be offered.
Anxious to End Divisions.
The British government is actuI
ated by an earnest desire to end the
unhappy divisions between Great
Britain and ireland, which have pro-
duced so many conflicts in the past
and which have once more shattered
the peace and well-being of Ireland.
At the present time, it longs with his
majesty the king in the words of his
gracious speech in Ireland last
month for satisfactory solution Of
those age-long Irish problems which
tor generations embarrassed our fore-
fathers as they now weigh heavily
upon us, and it wishes to do its ut
most to secure that every man of
Irish birth should work in loyal CO.
operation with the free communities
on which the British empire is
based
Propose Status Of Dominion.
Moved by these considerations
the British government invites Ire
land to take her place III the great
association of free nations over which
his majesty reigns.
"As an earnest of their desire to
deliberate old quarrels and to enable
ireland to face the future with her
own strength and hope, they pyopose
! that Ireland ;liail assume forth wni~.
the status of dominion, with ali
the powers and privileges set fors
iii this document.
by the adoption of doinini,
status it is understood that Ireland
shall enjoy complete authority in
taxation and finance; that she shal'
maintain her own military forces fof
home defense, her own constabulary
and her own police; that she shall
take over the Irish postal service and
all matters relating thereto; cduca-
ton, land, agriculture, mines and
minerals, forestry, housing, labor, un-
employment, transportation, trade,
public health, health insurance and
liquor traffic, and in sum, that she
shall exercise all those powers and =
privileges upon which the autonomy
OF self-government doninions is
based, subject 10 the considerations
set forth in the ensuing paragraphs.
Six Stipulations.
Guaranteed in these liberties,
which no foreign people can ei1al-
lenge without challenging the empire
as whole, the dominions hold each
and severally, by virtue of the;r Brit
ish fellowship, standing amongst
the nations equivalent not merely to
their individual strength, but to the
combined powers and influence OF alt
the nations OF the commonwealth.
That guarantee, that fellowship. thar
freedom, the whole empire looks t,
Ireland to accept"
Then follow six stipulations.
The first says that the common
concern of both countries in the de.
Tense of their interests on land and
sea will be recognized.
"Great Britain" it adds, '1ives by
the sea; her food and her conniun.-
cations depend on the freedom OF
the great sea routes. Ireland lies at
Britains side across the seaways
north and south that link her with
the sister nations OF the empire, the
markets of the world, and the vital
sources of her food supply.
'ln recognition OF this fact which
nature has imposed and which na
statesman speech can change, il is
essential that the royal navy aiona
should control the seas around Ire4
land and Great Britain, and that
such rights and liberties should ba
accorded it by the Irish state as are
essential for naval purposes in Irish
harbors ard on Irish coasts"
Must Conform to Others.
The second stipulation says: -,
'In order that the movement
toward limitation of arnlamentsi
which is now making progress ins
the world, should not be hampered
in any way. the Irish territorial
force shall within reasonable limits
conform in number to the military
establishments in other parts of the
islands"
In the third stipulation it is de-
Ctafeu tnat Treat britain ShalI nave,
all the necessary facilities for the de-
velopment of air defense and COM
munications.
The fourth expresses the hope that
Ireland will. Of her own free will,
contribute in proportion to her
wealth to the naval and military
forces OF the empire and assumes
that voluntary recruiting will be
permitted, particularly for those
Irish regiments which so long and
gallantly have served his majesty in
all parts OF the world
Complete autonomy IN finance
and taxation, with the agreement
that there shall be no tariffs and
other trade restrictions between the;