The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-05
Reason Given Is That They Are
Not Based on a Dominion
Status for Ireland.
WAY IS LEFT OPEN FOR
FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS
Communication Is Addressed TO
Lloyd George and Signed
By DeValera.

LONDON, Sept 1.-The reply OF the
irish republican parliament to Prime
Minister Lloyd Georges latest conn
munication rejects the British govern
ments proposals for settlement OF the
irish question on the ground that they
are not based on q dominion status
Tor Ireland. II leaves the way open for
further negotiations. however, by Of
fering At once to appoint plenipotenti-
aries on the basis OF the princfpIe of
government by consent Of the gov
4rned
The reply. hhlch II hddra aed Il Mr..
Lioyd-GeorgeS and signed BY Eamonn
DeVaiera. was given out at the prime
minister's official residence tonight
Ehe text Of the communication fol-
lows:
1--WE, too are convinced 1t Is essen
lial that some definite and immediate
progress should be made toward a ba-
sis upon which further negotiations
can usefully proceed, and recognize
the futility Of a mere exchange Of ar
gumentative notes. I shall therefore
refrain from commenting on the falla-
sious historical references in your
last communication. The present is
lhe reality with which we have to
Seal.
The conditions Of today are the re-
sultant OF the past. Accurately SUM
ming up and giving in simplest form
the essential data Of the problem.
these data are:
First; The people Of ireland, ac-
knowiedging no voluntary union with
Great Britain mad claiming as their
fundamental and natural right to
choose freely for themselves the path
they shall take to realize their nation
VI destiny, have. by an overwhelming
majority, declared for independence
and to set up republic. and more
than once have confirmed their choice.
second: Great Britain, on the other
hand, acts as though Ireland were
bound to her BY a contract of union
that forbids separation.
"The circumstances OF the supposed
contract are notorious. Yet. on the
theory OF its validity. he British gov
brnment and parliament claimed to
rule and legislate for Ireland, even TO
The point OF partitioning Irish terri
tory against the viii Of the Irish peo-
pie and killing or casting into prison
avery irish citizen who refuses alle-
glance. The proposals your govern
nont submitted In the draft OF July 20,
are based fundamentally on the latter
premises. We rejected these proposals
and our rejection In irrevocable. They
nre not an invitation for Ireland to, en-
~ 4e a free ad willing partnership
free nations OF tho British
awealth. They are an invitation
- IRELAND 20 enter In the guise OF,
and under conditions which determine
status definitely inferior to that OF
.hese free states.
Canada. Australia. South Africa
and New Zealand all are guaranteed
galnst domination Of the major state.
not only by acknowledged constitu-
honal rights which give them equality
Of status with Great Britain and abb
solute freedom from tlte control OF the |
British parliament but by the thou
sands Of miles which separate them !
from Great Britain. ireland would have
guarantees neither OF distance nor OF
right. The conditions sought to be inn
posed would divide her into two artifi-
cal states, each destructive or the /
others influence in any common coun-
eli, and both subject to military. naval
and economic control by the British |
government.
''rhe main historical and geograph-
ical facts are not in dispute. but your
government insists on viewing them
from your standpoint and we must be
allowed to view them from ours. The
history you interpret as debating
Continued on Page Six)