The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-17
FIRST MEETING OF
IRISH PARLIAMENT
REITERATES CLAIM
DeValera Asserts That Cabinet
of the Republican Parliament
Is Sole Government.
PROF. JOHN M'NEILL
is CHOSEN SPEAKER
British Civil Officials Still Hope
full of Settlement of Irish
Problem.
az The AssoeIated Pressl

DUBLIN, Aug 16.--Complete inde-
pendence for Ireland still remains the
demand of the leaders of the Sim
Fein.
At the opening of the Irish repub-
lican parliament today, Eamonn De
Valera, the republican leader, in an
address to the members declared that
for ireland he and his colleagues stood
for the ideals embodied in the Ameri-
can declaration OF independence. He
reiterated Ireland's claim to separa-
ton from the British empire and as
serted that the cabinet of the repub-
hcan parliament was the sole govern
ment the Irish people recognized.
Referring to the peace negotiations
with David Lloyd George, Mr.. De Va
lera said there were people who de-
sired to negotiate in order to save
their faces. The Sim Fein, however,
would negotiate only to save possible
bloodshed and for right and principle.
He declared that the cabinet in refus-
ing the proffer OF dominion form OF
government by Mr.. Lloyd George, had
taken this step because it considered
his proposals unjust.
Mr.. DeValeras address was listened
TO attentively by the 130 members of
the Dali Eireann gathered from all
parts OF Ireland. 1t was delivered aft
er Professor John Mcneil had been
chosen as speaker OF the parliament.
MIR. DeValera promised that at the
session tomorrow he would outline the
negotiations he had carried on with
Mr.. Lloyd-George and afterwards the
parliament might consider the situa-
ton behind closed doors.
Notwithstanding the attitude of the
members OF the Dial Eireann in taking
an oath of allegiance to the Irish re-
publican oath which in former days
would have been termed high treason
--and DeValera's reiterated demand
for freedom OF Ireland, British civil
officials in Dublin. many of whom as
sert that they have channels OF COM
OF the Sim Fein, are still hopeful of
a settlement of the Irish problem.
These officials tonight based their
hopes on one section of DeValera's
speech in which he said:
Tn the general election. which in
effect was a plebiscite, the question
was put to the Irish people what form
OF government they wanted and how
they wished to live so that they might
have the opportunity of working out
for themselves their own national life
in their own way.
THE answer the people gave was
unmistakable. / do not say their an
Ewer was for a form of government
so much because we are no republican
doctrinaires; but It was for Irish free
dom and Irish independence, and it
was obvious to everybody who con-
sidered the question that Irish inde-
pendence could not be realized at the
present time in any other way so suit
able as through a republic.
Hence It was that an Irish repub-
lie, as such, was sanctioned by the
representatives Of the people and that
you, the representatives OF the people
came here and in public session de-
clared the independence of the nation
and, solemnly declared your determine
tioh that you would give your lives
and everything you had in an endeavor
to make that expression OF the people
effective so that you would not mere-
iy in your own hearts secure recog-
nition OF It, but that you might se-
cure recognition OF 1t from every ma
tion throughout the earth"
This Is taken by officials here as
affording an opportunity for Mr.. De-
Valera to accept settlement OF the
controversy which does not involve a
republic.
Further on his speech. Mr.. DeValera
quoted statesman who had advo-
Gated the principle OF self -determina-
ton, and this to the official mind in
Dublin points to a Recommendation be-
tween the Sim Fein cabinet to the
Dali Eireann to submit the imperial
governments offer to a vote of tho
people OF Ireland.
Meanwhile, according to the belief
expressed here tonight. Mr., DeValera
expects the governmnt to apply fur
ther pressure OF Ulster to enter the
proposed Irish dominion while retain
ing its local autonomy. Advices re-
,Reived In Dublin, however, seem 20
khow that the Belfast officials are less
Inclined than ever to come TO an
agreement with Dublin. Big Belfast
business men are credited in these
advices as being increasingly distrust-
ful OF the capacity of the Sim Fein
q, ,,ractfcal affairs