Evening star., 1921-08-15
fore. to make our position

sire. therefore, to make our position
absolutely clear.
"In our opinion nothing is to be
gained by prolonging the theoretical
discussion of the national status
which you may be willing to accept,
as compared with that of the great
self-governing dominions of the
British commonwealth, but we must
direct your attention to one point on
which you lay some emphasis. and ON
which no British government can
compromise, namely. the claim that
we should acknowledge the. right of
Ireland to secede from her allegiance
to the king.
Cannot Recognize Right,
mo such right can ever be ac-
knowledged by us. The geographical
propinquity of Ireland to the British
Isles is a fundamental fact. The his
tory of the two islands for many
centuries. however. 1t is read. is sum-
cient Broof that their destinies are
indissolubly linked.
IRELAND has sent members to the
british parliament for mere than a
during all that time have enlisted
freely and served gallantly in the
forces of the crown. Great numbers
IN all the Irish provinces are pro-
toumdly attached to the throne.
These fac,s permit of one answer,
ana one only. to the claim that Great
Britain should negotiate with Ireland
as q separate and foreign power.
When you. AZ the chosen represen-
tatlVes or IriSh national ideals, came
20 speak with me, l made one condi-
tion only. of which our proposal plain
~ sSo,s stated the effect-that Ireland
graphical and historical facts.
II Is those facts which govern the
problems of British Irish relations.
II they did not exist there would be no
peooiems to discuss. l pass, there
Iore' 70 the conditions which are i'm
posed by these facts.
Opposed to Interference.
we set them out clearly in six
clauses in our former proposals, and
need not restate them here, except
to say that the British government
cannot consent to the reference of
any such questions which concern
Great Britain and Ireland alone to
the arbitration of foreign power.
we are profoundly glad to have
your agreement that northern Ire
land cannot be coerced. This point
Is OF great Importance, because the
resolve of our people to resist with
ihll power any attempt at secession
by one part of Ireland carries with
II or necessity an equal resolve to re-
sist any effort to coerce another part
sf Ireland to abandon it's allegiance
to The crown.
I'VE gladly give you the assurance
that we Will concur in any settle
inent which southern and northern
ireland may make for Irish unity
within the six conditions already laid
down, which apply to southern and
northern Ireland alike, but we cam
not agree to refer the question of
Your relations with northern Ireland
TO foreign arbitration.
No Desire to Force Will.
1.-THE conditions of the proposed set
tlement do not arise from any desire
to force our will upon the people of
another race. but from facts which are
as vital to 1relands welfare as to our
own. They contain no derogation
from 1reland's status as a dominion.
no desire for British ascendancy over
ireland and no impairment of Ire
lands national ideals. -
Our proposals present to the Irish
people an opportunity such as has
never dawned in their history before.
We have made them in a sincere de-
sire to achieve peace, but beyond them
we cannot go.
I'VE trust you will be able to accept
them in principle. 1 shall discuss their
application in detail whenever your
acceptance in principle is communi-
Gated to me-"