The New York herald., 1921-03-17
NOT RELIGIOUS WAR,
ASSERTS De VALERA
Head Of Irish Republic Says
Many in America Fail to
Understand Situation.
b he .tsaoe.a,ed Presa.

DUBLIN. March 16.-Eamonn De Va
lera. President OF "the irish Republic. :
gave personal interview to-day 70 the
Associated Press 4pondent. II any
proof OF the extraordinary precautions
taken by his followers 70 insure his pro-
lection were needed. Il was afforded by
the sxtreme care taken in bringing the
correspondent to and from the Irish
leaders refuge
De Valera told Of the impressions he
had brought back from America, and re-
marked: The saddest thing there. TO
me. was TO see the Irish question treated
by so many people as II II were a relig-
ious wrangle II Is not a religious qucs-
ton. even in so far as the differences
here between the North and South are
concerned"
He spoke bitterly Of the English Gov
ernnient's lack OF principle and states
manship."
England" he said. lis trying to win
by playing on human weakness. As 2
matter OF fact. though 1t does not
realize 1t. England is playing not or the
weakest but the strongest quality Of
the Irish people-their spiritual quality
The young men of Ireland are saying to
themselves: AT best, the span OF life
is only seventy year We must all die /;
these?'
The Irish leaders friends in America
would hardly recognize him. for he is on
the run. and naturally does not reveal
himself unnecessarily Obviously Il
would not do TO describe his appearance
In detail, but he looks extremely fit.
QUESTIONABLE for submission 70 the
President through the same channels as
were used In the submission of the ques-
SN~x~x ~t-a - f.,N 49,
pared. and the correspondent was pro-
ceeding TO the rendezvous for that
purpose, when suddenly he was invited
to climb into the sidecar OF motor
cycle and don goggles. which effectually
bllndfolded him The car sped through
Dublin by way OF an intricate route and
after an indeterminatc period the cor
respondent found himself in a well fur
nished living room and soon in the pres
ence of De Valera.
Twice after leaving the house the
correspondent vas held up and exam
med. first by members OF tho Irish Re
publican Army within sight of the
Presidents residence and second. for
tuitously BY the military.
When he was asked II he intended 10
issue a ST. Patrick's day message. par
ticularly to the people of America, Mr..
De Valera said:
Il think the people of America under
stand, and II the other peoples of the
world have not yet realized that II Is
night and right contending In this awful
strugsle-if they are left cold when
il IL 50 evident that IL Is q great prin-
ciple at stake, for which millions OF the
oravest of many countries lost their
ives in the late war--it would be
futile to endeavor 10 move them by mere
~, irt egiY
tons callous executions. wanton shoot
rigs. torturingS. lootings devastations
Jailed to touch, no message could affect.
Those will continue to dream, perhaps
OF some future day when justice and
right shall reign, but Withholding that
vigorous concrete aid which alone could
make their dreams come true"
Mr.. De Valera declared there was no
truth In the rumors of overtures for a
truce or peace or that the Dali Eireann
had laid down new conditions. There
can be peace tomorrow II England
would simply refrain from her aggres-
3ions." he asserted.
while no definite agreement had yet
been reached between the Sim Fein and
tho adherents OF the Irish party in
Ulster with respect TO the elections under
the partition act. such an agreement
would not be difficult" said Mr.. de
Valera. when the time for action ar
rived. II was mistake 10 suppose that
only Nationalists and republicans op-
posed partition. That would be proved
when the elections came"
Declaring that the difficulty OF the
problem was not the attitude Of Ulster.
but the attitude OF England, Mr.. de
Valera concluded: 1T Is 10 the interest
Of no section Of Irishmen to keep thei-
differences alive. but II Is TO tho Interest
OF certain English politicians an states
men who desire these differences as 4
cloak to their imperial greed"
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