Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-03-17
De'Valera
Gives Out
Interview
Extreme Care Is Taken
in Escorting Scribe to
Sanctum Sanctorum.
Gives US. Impressions;
Not Religious Question
as Thought Here, Says

ated Press. .)-Eamonn DeValera, leader
of the Republicans and president of
the Irish republic" gave personal
interview Wednesday to The Assoeiat-
ed Press correspondent. This is the
first interview he has accorded to any
newspaper representative since his re-
| turn from the United States to Ireland.
! If any proof of the extraordinary
precautions taken by his devoted fol-
lowers to insure his protection were
needed. it was afforded by the extreme
care taken in escorting the cores
| pondent to and from the presence of
the Irish leader. For an hour after
leaving Mr.. DeValera, the correspond
ent was under the closest surveillance
not only from his escort. but, as it
seemed from everybody in Dublin.
| In the course of the conversation.
which lasted three-duartcrs of an hour,
! Mr. DeValera told of the impressions
| he had brought back from America,
and remarked:
Taboos Religious Issue.
"The saddest thing there to me was
to see the Irish question treated by
SO many people as if it were religious
Wrangle. 1t is not religious question,
even insofar as the differences here
| between the north and south of Ireland
are concerned
He spoke bitterly OF the English
governments lack of principle and
craftsmanship
England" he said, "is trying to win
by playing on human weakness. As a
matter OF fact. though it does not re-
alize it, England is playing mot the
weakest but the strongest quality of the
Irish people--their spiritual quality.
The young men Of Ireland are saving
to themselves: A: best the duration
of life is only 20 years. We must all
die, so why not now in circumstances
like these? Never, perhaps. as by dy-
ing in such cause as lreland's could
we do so much for the world.
Leader in Good Health.
England may try to contend that
men like those executed in Mount Joy
were murderers, She will find it much
harder than she imagines to get the
world to accept that view"
The Irish lender is in excellent
health, but his friends III America
would hardly recognize him. for he is
on the run and naturally does not re-
veal himself unnecessarily. Obviously
it would not do to describe his ap-
pearance in detail, but he looks ex-
tremely fit and conveys the impression
of being free from any sense of person
al danger.
The volunteer who conducted the
correspondent to Mr.. De Valera's resi-
dence said that. despite the protests of
his friends. De Valera persisted in
working strenuously daily from
o'clock in the morning until Ii at night.
The intensity of his concentration was
shown Wednesday by the fervor of his
exposition of the Irish cause and its
righteousness and his declaration that
Ireland is keeping alive the flame of
the high principles for which the late
war was fought.
Interview Surprise.
The interview was complete sur
prise. Until Is minutes before it took
place. the correspondent had no init
nation that it would be accorded.
A uuestionnaire for submission to
the president through the same chan
ncls as were used in the SUBMISSION OF
the questionnnire of last January had
heen prepared and the correspondent
was proceeding to the rendezvous for
that purpose. when suddenly he was
invited to climb into the side car of n
motorcycle and don goggles. which eff
fectualiy blindfolded him. The car
sped through Dublin by way of an in
tricate route. and after an indetermin- |
arc pcriod the correspondent found |
himsalf in well furnished living room |
and soon in the presence of DE Valera. |
Twice after leaving the house the
was held up and exam |
ined. first by members Of the Irish
Republican army within sight of the |
residence. and, second, for
tuituously by the military.
Wires Cut in Dublin. /
Telegraph and telephone wires were
cut on an extensive scale during the
last "a hours, causing the suggestion
TO be made that some movement on
large scale was being arranged. Line
men were held up as they left the CEN
tral offices and their equipment taken
TO prevent them making repairs. Thus
far however, there have been only the
usual scattered shooting.
A tailor of Keenagh, county Long
ford, was taken from his work today
ond shot dead. A card with the
words shot by the Irish Republican
army for spying" was attached to the
body.
A constable was shot dead in North
Kerry and woman, into whose house
the body was taken, died Of shock.
/