New Britain herald., 1921-08-26

London, Aug. 26, (By Associated ffess s)--The British governments peace proposals were laid before the Dall i>lreann which rejected them unanimously but is willing to nego- tiaIe on the principle of government oS consent of the governed. Eamon De valera says in his reply to Mir. LioSd George, the British premier.
 Do Not Want War.
 inc letter proposes that Great Brit. am and Ireland appoint representa- tlNes With plenary powers to negotiate details on this principle.
 we nave not sought war nor do we seek war, but if war be made upon us we must defend ourselves and shall do so,' says MT. De Valera,s letter. We long to end the conflict between Great Britain and Ireland. !" Ee adds.
 Text of Letter.
 The text of the letter, which bears the date of August 24 reads:
 The anticipatory Judgment I gave Tn my reply of August 10 has been confirmed. I laid the proposals of your government before the Dali Elreann and by a unanimous vote It has rejected them
 From your letter of August Is 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 or the subordination of Ireland's right to Great Britains strategic interests. as she conceived them and that the very length and persistence of the efforts made in the past to compel ifelands acqIisence in a foreign dom lnatlon imposed the condition of &C., cepiance Of that domination now"
 Doesn't Like Militarism. We cannot believe that your gov- ernment intended to commit itself to the principle of sheer militarism, de- StfucuVe of international morality and fatal to the worlds peace If a small nations right to independence IS forfeited when more powerful neighbor covets its territory for mil itary or other advantages it is SUD- posed to confer there is an end to hberty. No longer can any small na- ton Claim the right to separate existence Holland and Denmark can be made subservient to Germany, Bel gium to Germany or to France, Por- tugal to Spain.
 
 nexed to an empire they lose thereby their title to independence there can be for them no rrbirth to freedom.
 Tn Ireland's case to speak of her seeding from a partnership she has not accepted or from an allegiance which she has not undertaken to rem der is fundamentally false, just as the claim to subordinate her in prin- ciple to British strategy is funda- mentally unjust. To neither can we, as representativ of :he nation lend countenance.
 If our refusal to betray our na- tion's honor and the trust that has been reposed in us is to be made an issue ot war by Great Britain we de- plore il We art as conscious of our responsibilities to the living as we are mindful of her or of our obligations to the heroic dead.
 Noi Seekin: War;
 "We have not sought war nor do we seek war. but if war be made upon us. we must defend ourselves, and defense be successful or unsuccessful. nobody of representative Irishmen or Irish women will ever propose to the nation the surrender of it's birthright.
 We long to end the conflict between Great Britain and Ireland If your government be determined to impose it's will upon by force and antecedent
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