New-York tribune., 1921-03-17
No Truce, Says
De Valera in
First Interview
Correspondent, Blinded by
Goggles, Is Taken to the
Secret Home of Leader.
In or Near ID ubli II
Denies Any Weakening
We Must Die Some Time.
Why Not Now? Cited as
Spiritual View of Irish

leader of the Republicans and presi-
dent Of "the Irish Republic" gave a
personal interview to-day to The AS
sociated Press correspondent. This is
the first interview he has accorded to
any newspaper repre- sentative since his
return from the United States to Ire
land.
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 escortng the correspond
ent to and from the presence of the
Irish leader. For an hour after leaving
Mr.. De Valera the correspondent was
under the closest surveillance, not
only from his escort, but. as it seemed,
from everybody in Dublin.
The conversation lasted three quar-
tiers O. an hour. Mr.. De Valera told
Of the impressions he had brought back
from America, and remarked:
Deplores American View
"The saddest thing there to me was
to see the Irish question treated by so
many people as if it were religious
wrangle It is not a religious question,
even in so far as the differences here
between the north and south are con-
cerned."
He spoke bitterly Of the English gov
ernment's 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 not on the
weakest but the strongest quality of
the Irish people-their spiritual quail
ity The young men of Ireland are
saying to themselves: AT best, the
span of life is only seventy years. We
must all die. SO why not now, in cir
cumstances like these ?"
Leaders Health Excellent
The Irish leader is in excellent
health, but his friends in 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 appear
ance in detail, but he looks extremely
fit and conveys the impression of be-
ing free from any sense of personal
danger.
The volunteer who conducted the cor
respondent to Mr.. de Nalera's residence
said that, despite the protests Of his
friends, De Valera persisted in work
ing strenuohsly daily from o'clock in
the morning until II at night. The
intensity Of his concentration was
shown to-day by the Tervor of his eX
position Of the Irish cause and its
righteousness and his aclaraton that
Ireland is keeping alivs the fame of
the high principles for which the late
war was fought.
Wears Goggles on Trip
The interview was a complete sur.
prise. Until fifteen minutes before i
took place the correspondent had M
information that it would be accorded
questionnaire for submission to thu
President through the same channel.
as were used in the submission of tn
QUESTIONABLE of last January had beer
prepared and the correspondent wa.
proceeding to the rendezvous for tina
purpose when suddenly he was invited
TO climb into the sidecar of a motor
cycle and don goggles, which effec
tuany blindfolded him. The car spec
through Dublin by way of an intricate
period the correspondent found him
self in a we'll furnished living room
and soon IN the presence of De Valera
Twice after leaving the house The
correspondent was held up and exam
ined, first by members of the Irish re
publican army, within sight of the
Presidents residence, and, second
fortuitously by the military.
When he was asked if he intended t.
issue a St. Patrick's Day message, par
ticularlY to the people of America, Mr.
De Valera said
81 think the people of America un
dcerstand. and if the other peoples o.
the world have not yet realized, that i
Is might and right contending in thi:
awful struggle le-if they are left cole
when it is so evident that it is a grea
principle at stake, for which millions
OF the bravcst of many countries los
their lives in the late war-it woulo
be futile to endeavor to move them By
sasslnatlons, callous executions, wan
ton shootings, torturings lootings
devastatons. failed to touch, no mes
sage could affect. Those will continue
to dream, perhaps, of some future day
when justice and right shall reign, bu
Withholding that vigorous, concrete ait
which alonn could make their dream!
come true.
For the past four years we have
been appealing to and conscientiously
trying to mobilize the moral forces
OF the world. Our experience has
been that those loudest in the appea'
that we should trust moral forces
alone are precisely those who show
the least inclination to give us prac
teal aid by their actions Am | my
brothers. keeper | fear is Iona
gong to remain the philosophy OF
mankind"
Denying that there was any weaken
Ing in lreland's power of resistance
De Valega continued: "The Repub
hcans Of Ireland, that is, threefourths
OF our people, realize that since deatf
Is inevitable, there is no way it car
come so we'll as in the grand defence
o. the most sacred human rights
There is nowhere on earth a purer OF
more unselfsh struggle. 1t will be
persevered in with the same courage
and forttude as shown by the early
Christians.
Brute force and lies, by which you,
Hamar Greenwoods and their like ars
masking it. will avail only for time
Ihe Roman emperors did not win il
their contest-England won't win II
hers"
Mr.. de Valera declared there was ~
ruth in the rumors of overtures To-
truce or peace. or that the Dai
cream had laid down new conditions