New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-18
SCOTS at English Claim of
Dominion Home Rule;
Tells Dali Eireann Irish
Will Resist With Force
Declares Secession
Is Not in Question
Lloyd George Cancels His
Statement to Commons
as Cabinet Is COnvOked

Copyright, 1921 New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, Aug. 17.-Eamon de
Valera slammed the door to Irish
peace to-day. Whether il, will be
opened again is another matter, but
nothing could be more explicit than
De Valera's statement before the
Dali Eireann in Dublin to-day that
1--WE can not and will not. on behalf
of the Irish nation, accept the Brit
lsh governments proposals."
The Sim Fem leader did, however.
make conciliatory overtures to Ul-
ster, indicating that the republicans
would go far to meet the Orangemen
in the establishment of united Ire
land.
An extraordinary situation has
arisen in the last two days, with the
press Of all England assuring the
populace that the Sim Fein leader
did not mean what he said in his let
ter to Premier Lloyd George, declar-
ing his peace terms unacceptable.
Now, however, if the English lam
guage means anything, De Valera
has bluntly AND fatty rejected the
British offer on the ground that sit
implies two broken pieces of Ire
land"
The serious view of the situation
taken in London IS shown in the
fact that the Premiers expected state
ment in regard to Ireland in the House
OF Commons this afternoon was can
celed, the government apparently hop
ing that the Dali Eireann would
modify the Presidents truculent tone
in secret session.
Emphatic in Rejection
De Valera took particular pains ia
make himself clear at the public re.
sumption of the Irish Parliament's
session to-day. Speaking first in
Gaelic he soon switched 20 English.
exclaiming:
81 am speaking now in English be-
cause what | have to say affects not
merely this assembly and the whole
Irish nation, but viii be heard by the
whole world.
There seems to be some doubt in
the mind of the world as to our atti-
tude toward the British proposals.
whether what I said or whether our
letter meant acceptance or rejection.
Il think there ought to be no doubt
in anybody's mind. We cannot and
will not, on behalf of the Irish nation,
accept the British governments pro-
posals"
After rejecting the British offer De
Valera proceeded to analyze it. scotf-
ing at the English claim that ireland
is now offered dominion home rule.
No Enmity Toward England
"God Almighty has placed this isl
and as unit beside another island'
he declared with deep emotion. eve
want to be neighborly. The irish ma
ton does not stand between England
and the world"
De Valera argued further that ire
land bore no enmity toward England or
northern Island, although. he declared.
Sim Fem had been willing to &c fur
ther to conciliate Ulster than it would
to concilate England. His speech
ended with a martial note as he said:
"The Irish people viii resist with
force to the utmost and will not finch
because more arms have been sent
for"
Scenes Of enthusiasm similar to those
yesterday, when the Dali Eireann be-
gan its session. marked the meeting
to-day, but there was no disorder.
Cabinet Considers Speech
In London, meanwhile, a Cabinet
meeting was called to consider De
Valera's speech. Afterward apparently
inspired announcements appeared, say
ing that De Valera's declarations,
while they are regarded as highly pro-
vocative and infiammatory, are not
taken too literally in Downing Street
In the House of Commons this af-
ternoon some restiveness developed
over the fact that the governments
offer had been made public before :.
was submitted before the House of
Commons. Austen Chamberlain ex-
planned in reply that the government
had dealt with the matter in the man
ner it felt best.