Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-17
De VALERA SPURNS
FARLEY INVITATION
Refuses to See Lloyd George
TIL Irish independence
Is Recognized
CANNOT ACCEPT CONDITIONS

man. reprinted from todiy's Puh,jr Ledger
COPYRIGHT 1927, ov Public ledger Co.
London. May 17.--Eamon do Valera
IN statement given in Dublin 70 tho
nuhLiC LEDGER and New York Herald
eAciuSiVcly.. virtually refuses to accent
an invitation extended by Premicr
Lloyd George for conference. looking
10 an irish settlement. until Irelnnd's
right to choose freely her own form Of
government is acknowledged by Great
Premier Lloyd Georges otfor was
made through Martin Glvnn '" oY Gov.
crnor of Now York. who met Mr. Iloyd
t,,,c,org" Just before sailing for America,
HIS dcclarration to Mr.. Glynn, trans.
mitted TO- Dublin, was as follows:
| VIII meet Mr.. DcValcra or nny
lrish leaders without condition on my
part or without cxactine promises from
thcm. 1t is the only way n conclusion
can br reached. Such a conference will
load to an exchange of opinions ont Of
which We may find common ground
upon which we can refer our differences
10 our respective people .or settlement"
Receives Message In Disguise
The Premier's statement was deliv-
e,r"d to Mr.. De Valera as he sat cleverly
disguised, except for his voice. In the
hait -darkmd room of a villa in the
subur BIS of Dublin. After weighing the
rrcmicr's words carefully, Mr.. De
Valera made sais reply:
IF Mr.. Lloyd George makes this
statement in public I give him public
reply, The fundamental question at
issue between the two countries is the
question of 1reland's right to choose
freely and independently her own gov
ernment and political institutions Mt
home and her relationships with foreign
nations as well. This independent right
may as well be acknowledged first as
last, for never can there be a settle.
ment as long as it is denied.
Any particular proposition put for
ward by Britain affecting the welfare OF
the people of the two islands will then
be fit subject for consideration and
discussion between representatives of
our respective peoples. We have never
denied that we have certain interests in
common. but we must be free and in =
dependent judges of what our own in =
terests are and not compelled simply
by Britain's superior brute force TO
enter into engagements which we may
deem detrimental to u.s."
De Valera Replies to Questions
Mr.. de Valera has also made written
replies to the following series of ques-
tions propounded:
Q-lt is always said by Britain that
Britain cannot lay herself open to an
enemy attack through independent Ire =
land. Granted an independent Ireland,
what guarantees against such an event
do you think Ireland is prepared to
give?
Al have already pointed this out
] 4. E.
/ land will be prepared to give pledges OF
absolute neutrality-suspicious. which ] be
lieve it would be possible to get the
/ United States and other great Powers tC
subscribe to. And aS for ourselves. WE
would spend our last man preserving
that neutrality inviolatp and we would
be ready to give undertakings to main
tain our defense in a proper state Of eff
cheney. Upon recognizing lreland's in.
dependence, England could at the same
time issue warning. such as the Mon
roe Doctrine, that she would regard ar
attempt of any foreign power to obtain
foothold in Ireland as an act of hos
tility against herself. In case Of O
common foe. Ireland's man power would
then be available for the defense of the
two islands. Under existing condition,
It can never happen that the peoples o'
the two islands will regard any outside
power as a common foe. England's foC
will be Ireland's friend as long as Eng
land herself remains Irelnnd's foe. Ire.
lands man power that might on occa
sion be with England will be agains
her.
O. What Of the suggestion that Ire.
! land might be erected into an indPpon
dent constitutional monarchy with thu
same personal sovereign as Britain
with the powers of that sovereign lin,
tied, and the powers of an Irish Par
lament made equal with those of thu
British Parliament?
\. The Irish people have declared
exactly how they want to be governed
Any attempt on the part of Britain
to dictate in her own interest an ar
rangrmcnt which the Irish people hav,
not and do not favor will destroy a
the outset any chance for an agree
ment.
Cork. May 17.-By a. P.J-!
rarity of university students were re
turning to this CITY last evening from
a picnic. when they were ordered T.
halt their vessel by unknown person
ashore, who fired shots. wOunding thrc
women and one man. \ naval v"ssc
took thr injured persons aboard am
landed them in Cork. where they re
cciyrd medical attention.
Ep,ctaI cable Dispatch Copyright. f0?I
Belfast May 1.-THE first cargo o
American coal in Ireland arrived n
Nclnst yesterday on the AlcdO. 1t hN
5000 tons for the Great Northern Rail
way. Tn" coal was discharged b
union duckcrs. the embargo on handlin
foreign coal having been withdrawn 70
Ireland.
\ district inspector and eight polio
ut Crosslcy Sender, investigating wire
cutting operations, ran into an ambus
Sunday evening near Pon"roy, i
County Tyrone. Thirty raiders opcnc
fir" from behind high hedge. Ser
gcant Sloynr was shot in the head. Tn
police halted some distance along tn
road, scaled the mountanside and on
gagged the attacking force which re
treated after sharp exchanges, lcavn
guns and bombs behind.
: CECIL ADVOCATES