Evening star., 1921-08-26
HPEACE REPLY
|SFlAT REFUSAL
Of BRITISH OFFER
!vViHing to Negotiate Only on
Principle of Consent of
Those Governed.
DE VALERA SAYS IRELAND
MUST STAND BY RIGHTS
Puts Blame for Any Further Fight
ing on Britain-London Answer
Already Forwarded.

Already Forwarded.
Ey the Associated Press.
LONDON. August 28.-Premfer
Lloyd George. replying today 10
Ecmonn De Valera, in alludinS to
the demand for recognition of Ire
I.-d as n foreign power. says Mr.
De Valera sis playing with phrase"
to suxgest that the principle OF
government by the c"nsent Of the
governed campsiS recos'nifion OF
that demand ON our part and that
in repudlatinE It we are straininx
x-oxraphfcal and historical COM
Siicrntion to Justify claim TO
..sreadanCy over the irisn race
re prime minister warns Mr.. De
Valera thnt owing to ''the action
Gc;pr taken In certain quarters"
n Is dangerous to prOiOnx the ne
.~ntiatioax. Therefore. while WphhE
t, ,s,ake every allowance, ne cna-
mt, he declares. pro!o1fs the mere
exchange of notes. but says he Will
i,~ haPp! to meet Mf. DE Naiera
pusi his colleagues again.
LONDON, August 26.-The British
governments peace proposals were
laid before the dali eiraenn, which
IclSCttu
willing TO negotiate on principle of
government by consent of the gov
erned. Eamon de Valera says is his
reply to Mr. Lloyd George. the Brit
ish prime minister.
The letter proposed that Great
Britain and Irelnad appoint repre-
sentatives with plenary powers to ne
gotiate details on this principle.
s.V- ycrh
we seek war. but if war be made upon
US we must defend ourselves, and
We shall do So" says Mr.. de Valrea's
letter. 1--WE long to end the conflict
between Great Britain and Ireland.
he adds.
Full Text of Irish Reply.
The letter, which bears the date of
August "a. reads:
THE anticipatory Judgment 1 gave
in my reply of August 10. has been
confirmed. ! laid the proposals OF
your government before the dah eireann,
and by unanimous vote. it fasfrejected
"From your letter of August 1s. it
was clear that the principle We are
asked to accept was that the geo
graphical propinquity' of Ireland to
Great Britain imposed the condition
of the subordination of 1relands
right to Great Britain's strategic in
terests, as she conceived them, and
that the very length and persistence
of the effort made in the past to COM
pei Ireland's acquiescence in a for
eign domination imposed the cond1-
tion of acceptance of that domina-
tion now.
Military Policy Doubted.
We rannot believe that vo''r ~ov-
ernment intended to commit itself to
the principle of sheer miiitarism. de-
ssructiye of international morality
and fatal to the worlds peace. II a
snail nations right to independence
is forfeited when more powerful
nnighbor covets it's territory for mill
tary or other advantages, it is sup
p, ii 10 -1fe- there IS an end 70
. liberty. No longer can any small
nation claim the right to separate
existence. Holland and Denmark can
be made subservient to Germany. Bel.
siuin to Germany or to France, Portugal
tc Spain.
IF nations that have been forcibfy
annexed to an empire lose thereby
their title to independence there can
l." for them no rebirth to freedom.
In Ireland's case, to speak OF her
rs, accepted or from an allegiance
SNi,ich she has not undertaken to
r. nder is fundamentally false. just as
tn" claim to subordinate her inde-
damentally unjust. To neither can
we. as representatives of the nation,
], nd countenance.
IF our refusal to betray our ma
t:C MS honor and the trust that has
been repcSed in US is to be made an
issue of war by Great Britain. we de-
p.cre it. We are as conscious of our
re sponsibiiities TO the living as we
are mindful OF principle or of our
obligations to the heroic dead.
VIII Not Give Up Birthright.
we have not sought war nor do
we seek war. but if war be made upon
us we must defend ourselves. and
shall do SO, confident that whether
our defense be successful or unsuc-
lrishmen or Irishwomen will ever
propose to the nation the surrender
of it's birthright.
I'VE long to end the conflict be-
tween Great Britain and Ireland. If
your government be determined to
impose its will upon US by force. and
antecedent to negotiations to- insist
upon conditions that involve sur
render of our whole national posi-
ion and make negotiation a mock
tinuance of the conflict rests upon
GU.
On the basis of the broad guiding
principle of government by the con-
sent of the governed peace can be
secured-a peace that will be just
Rnd honorable to all and fruitful of
concord and inducing to amity.
ITO negotiate such a peace the dail
Fireann is ready to appoint its rep
resentatives and, if your government
accepts the principle proposed, to in
vest them with plenary powers to
meet and arrange with you for its
duplication in detail.
Il am, sir,
Faithfully yours,
(Signed) 'EAMON DE VALERA"
DE VALERA READS REPLY.