Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-09-19
Premier TeIegraphs De Val
era Parley Impossible
Under Terms
HOLDS TO FIRST BID
Leaves Room For Sim Fein to Modify
Present Attitude-Claims Soyer-
eighty.

London, Sept. 9.-Premier
! Lloyd George today added another to
the brisk fire of telegraphs be-
tween Dublin and Gairloch, which
leaves Eamom de Valeras search
for formula enabling him to ac-
ccpt the invitation to a conference
still unsatisficd, and the position on
,he Irish question is virtually the
same as on Friday.
In his message to the Irish Repubr
lean leader. the British Prime Min
lster remains firm in refusing to
meet the Irish delegates as represent
;ng an !ndependent and sovereign
state, and declared that unless that
section of Mr.. dc Falera's recent
letter insisting upon the delegates
acting as representatives of an inde-
pendent Ireland were withdrawn, a
conference between the members OF
the British Cabinet and the Sim
Fein plenipOtcntiarieS would be I'M
possible.
Notwithstanding the firm tone of
Mr.. Lloyd Georges telegram, it IS
interpreted as displaying solictude to
furnish Mr.. de Valera a favorable
opening for abandoning his present
attitude.
81 have received your telegram Of
last night and observe it does not
modify the claim that your delegates
SHOULD meet us as representatives of
q sovereign and Independent state.
You made no such condition in ad-
vance VIXEN You came to see in July
| invited you then to meet me, in the
wcrds Of my letter, as the chosen
leader Of the great majority III
Southern Ireland, and you accepted
the invitation.
From the very outset OF our con-
versatioEs | told you that we looked
to Ireland 10 own allegiance to the
throne, and to make her future as q
member of the British commonwealth
That was the basis of our proposals,
and we cannot alter it.
The status you now claim in adj
vance for your delegates is in effect
Ia reputation of that basis. am
prepared TO meet your delegates. as
/ met you in July, in the capacity
# the chosen spokesman for your
people TO discuss the association OF
Ireland with the British common
wealth.
"My colleagues and | cannot meet
them as representatives of sover-
,.ign and independent state without
dSloyalty on our part to the throne
and the empire. must therefore re-
peat that unless the second paragraph
Of your letter Of the twelfth IS with
drawn = conference between us is im-
possible.
The second paragraph cf Mir. de
Valera's letcor Of September II, to
which Premier Lloyd George alludeS
n his latest telegram, is as follows:
an this final vote VIC deem it our
duty to reaffirm that cur position $
and can only be as we have defined
il throughout this correspondence,
Our nation has formally declared its
Independence and recognizes itself a:
a sovereign state. It IS only as rep
resentativcs of that state and as its
chosen guardians that we have au-
thority or powers to act on behalf OF
our people. As regards the principle
Cf government by consent Of the, gov
erned, in the very nature Of things
It must be the basis of any agree
o1ert that will achieve the purpose we
have at heart-that is, the final rec
onciliation Of our nation with yours.
We have suggested no Interpretation
If that principle, save Its everyday
Interpretation, the sense, for example,
m which it was understood by the
rlain men and women Of the world,
when on January ), 1918. you said:
The settlement of Europe must be
based on such grounds of reason
and Justice as will give some premise
Of stability. Therefore, it is that we
feel that government with the con-
sent of the governed must be the
basis Of any territorial settlement in
this war"