The New York herald., 1921-07-08
irish SEEKING PEACE
If BASED ON JUSTICE,
ASSERTS De VALERA
President of Republic Is
Hopeful Of Results From
the Conferences Now
Going On.
HAND OUT TO ULSTER
Leader Tells Correspondent
for New York Herald That
Any Fair Autonomy Will
Be Granted.
SENDS A MESSAGE TO U. s.
SHUTS and Craig Won't Attend
To-day's Dublin Conference
DE Valera Balks at
London Invitation.
SENDS A MESSAGE TO U. s.
Special Cable to THE New YoRK HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, by THE New YoRK HnAI D.

cPeCtot OoOt0 TO i HH NEW 1O8h f10hALDs
Copyright, 1891, by THE New York HnMD.
DUBLIN, July 1.-The British
Government will find no lack Of
good will on the part of the
Irish for peace Eamonn De Valera
told THE New YORK HERALD cor.
respondent to-day in an informal
interview. He was asked how he
felt about the prospects for peace and
said:
1T all depends upon whether the
British Government really desires
peace and whether 1t has the will to
seek peaceful solution, which Is one
based on right and justice. II it does
1t will find that the Irish people will
display good will toward their repre-
sentattves."
De Valera, who was besieged by
callers, at the Mansion House to-day
positively refused to make any state.
ment regarding the progress of the
peace negotiations. 1t Is not believed
De Valera IL ready to go to London on
the present pasis Of negotiations, al
though it is said that IL very liberal
proposals are made he might submit
them to the irisE people.
During an intimate talk De Valera
seemed to indicate that he entertains
considerable hope of.the outcome Of
the peace conference. He was bris-
tling with energy, despite the tired
look that came to his face.
Some Questions Evaded.
The Irish President" said he could
not answer questions regarding the
visit here OF Gen. SHUTS and of Sir
Arthur Craig. Ulster Premier, to Lon
don. and what they might determine
there when they met. But despite this
reticence he was frank in wishing the
American people to understand the
delicacy OF his position In the present
crisis.
In addition to his general reply as
to the prospects Of peace he answered
the following questions:
America has heard much of the ir-
reconcilable element-does it exist?"
Il am not quite sure know what
you mean," he replied. Some call the
people Of northeast Ulster frreconcil-
ables,' and some apply the term to our
republicans.
But we must be careful not to allow
ourselves to be led away by names or
by creations Of propagandists. We
should keep a firm grip on the facts
as they are. There are people with
strong convictions who are ready to
sacrifice their lives and all they have
for these convictions. Thus they stand
the most searching test of the sin
certify in which they hold these con-
victions, and 1t is most unfair to char
acterize such devotion by such mis-
leading names.
All Harmony in Dali Eireann.
colleagues in the Ministry. we mover
at any time have had even slight diff
fercnces, either of point of view or
policy. We are all united In working
together in the most complete har-
mony, basing our positions and actions
upon the sovereign will of the Irish
people as ascertained and declared in
repeated plebiscites."
rs there anything in the constitu-
ton of the Irish Republic which makes
1t impossible to present to the Irish
people any proposition coming from
the British Government with respect
to some new political relationship be-
tween the peoples of the two islands ?"
was the next question.
NO" DE Valera replied.
What measure of autonomy are
vnu willing to grant to northeast Ul-
stcrx-
-a-ch autonomy as thcy themselves
desire and such as Is Just" no re-
oiled.
Whatever the Irish leaders do. they
arc careful not TO say anything which
might shattcr tho hopes or both sides
OF the channel. De Valera has re-
ceived scores Of cablegrams from the
United States expressing hope in the
happy outcome of the negotiations.
and his face frightened when he re-
marked that he thought there WASN'T
any doubt where tho American pso.
pie stood regarding the efforts at
settlement.
The second meeting OF the Southern
Unionist leaders with Dc Valera will
Be held Tomorrow Mt Il o'clock. There
Cnnfinslcd "a. Entlrth pnac