Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-01-11
Lord Winnberne, Not
Premier, Told Truth
Concerning Intrigue,
Declares "President"

Dublin, Jan. 10.-lBy the Asso-
ciated Press, ,-Eamonn de Valera, the
Irish Republican leader, broke mis-
silence Monday with a formal state
ment vigorously denying the alleged
German-Irish plot against Great Brit
ain and attacking the governments
white paper" issued Saturday concern
ing such plot.
'"Therc was no such thing as this
German plot in 1918" says the state
ment. II have asserted this III Amer
lea time after time. | now repeat i
here
Lord Wimberne Told Truth
From July, 1917, I was intimately
IN touch with all the major activities
both of the Sim Fein political organi-
zation and the Irish volunteers, and
so | speak with knowledge and author
ity. Lord Wimberne fthen lord lieu
tenant of Ireland-not Mr.. Lloyd
George-told the truth Of this matter
The general character of this report,
its total untrustworth;ness and its 0b-
vious purpose to bring to play on the
4 side of the authorities of the present
military frightfulness in ireland all the
preiudices and hatreds Of the past war,
can be inferred from the portions that
have reference to me personally.
"For example: Firstly, the document
on Army organization attributed to me
and said to be in my handwriting Is
not in my handwriting. as they could !
easily have seen. Further, il was Meth |
er COMPOSED by me nor composed at J
my suggestion, nor was it on my per- |
son.
Asks for Original.
"T suggest that representative Amer |
lean or continental press men ask
Lloyd George to let them see the orig
inaI document or a Photographic copy ,
of It. It won't need an expert TO de- f!
eide that the writing is not mine. Wien !
that is done ] will give a full history
of the document. supported by proofs
that will be conclusive"
"The way the British cabinet has |
impressed this document into its scrv-
ice might he taken as d standard to IL |
lustrate how they manufacture such |
plots.
"SecondIy, the press has already |
commented on the fact that although \
names We're given without reserve /
throughout the report. a letter found 4
in my possession is referred to as from
a known member Of the Irish Republic
an army. It will be interesting to
know the reason for this.
Handed Document.
This letter was handed to me while
presiding at meeting few hours be-
fore my arrest. Ut might have come
from lloyd George himself or from the
original discoverer Of the German plot
Sir Edward Carson.) ] glanced
through the contents and LATERAL
though the document seemed Of no
(particJllar Importance, being, if gcnu
inc. nothing more than the writer's
own views on the situation as regards
conscription and steps that We're De
ing taken to meet it-as Il safeguard
to the writer from the attentions Of
the British. should they get the letter,
| pinched off the signature. This can
be seen if the original is examined.
Thirdly, as to the document on
communications. IT was given 10 me
as basis from which | might start to
work up a system of communication
which was needed BY the Mansion
House conference in connection with
their work, in view Of the threatened
enforcement of conscriptiOn."
From, Publicity Bureau.
The statement, which was given out
officially through the Sim Fem public
ity department, was made exclusively
TO the American newspapers CORES
pondents in Dublin. 1T will not be is
sued to the Irish and English newspa-
pers, until Tuesday
1t is considered here that any doubt
which may have existed regarding Mr.
De Valera's presence in Ireland has
been cleared up by this communique.
The Associated Press was informed
that the statement was dictated by Mr.
De Valera in Dublin Monday.
Precedes Manifesto.
1t was further stated that De Valera
had not intended to make public
statement before issuing his manifesto
which has been so long awaited. but
that he felt the necessity of coming out
with a denial of the alleged German
plot while the governments report on
it was still fresh in the minds of the
world De Nalera's manifesto will De
issued in a day or two.
The correspondent learns that Faith
er O'Flanagan has returned from Lon
dn@ his conversations with Premier
Lloyd George having terminated when
the premier learned that the rricst had
not come as an official representative
Of the Dali Eireann. but of the arch
bishop of Tuam, who is still endeavor-
ing to bring about his recently proposed