The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-26
Loophole Is Left for Fur
ther arley, However,
and All Hope of Peace
full Agreement Not Yet
Abandoned Next
Move Is Great Britain's

London, Aug 2G-The British gov
"rmncnl'S peace proposals we're laid
before the Dahl I,irean which reject
ed them unanimously but is willing to
negotiate on the principle of govern
mrnt by consent of the governed.
Eamonn de Valera says in his reply to
MIR. Lloyd George. the British prime
minister
The letter proposed that Great Brit
ain and ireland appoint representa-
tives with plenary powers to negoti-
ate details on this principle
we have not sought war nor do
We seek war. but il war be made upon
u We must defend ourselves and we
shall do So says Mr. de Valera s let
ter. we long to end the conflict be-
tween Great Britain and Ireland" he
adds.
The letter. which bears the date of
Aug. n, reads
THE anticipatory judgment | gave
in my reply of Aug. 10 has been con
hrmed. | laid the proposals OF your
government before the Dali Eireann
and by Il unanimous vote it has re-
iected them.
From your letter of Aug. Is. will
say that the responsibility we are
asked to accept that the geographical
propinquty' of ireland to Great Brit
an imposed the condition OF the
SuboIdination OF Irelands right to
Great Britain's strategic interests as
She conceived them. and that the very
length and persistence of the efforts
made in the past to compel lrelands
a:quiesCence in a foreign domination
imposed the condition of acceptance
of that domination now
We cannot believe that your gov
ernment intended to commit itself to
the principle of sheer militarsm, de-
structive of international morality and
fatal to the worlds peace. ii a small
nations right to independence is for
feited when IA more powerful neigh
Dor covetS its territory for military or
other advantages il is supposed to
confer. there is an end to liberty. No
longer can any small nation claim the
right to Il separate existence.
"Holland and Denmark can he made
subservient to Germany. Belgium to
Germany or to France. Portugal to
Spain.
III nations that have been forcibly
annexed to an empire lose thereby
their title to independence. there can
be for them no rebirth to freedom.
I'm lrelands case. to speak of her
acceding from Il partnership she has
not accepted or from an allegiance
which she has not undertaken to rem
der is fundamentally false. Just as the
claims to subordinate her independ
ence to British strategy is fundamen-
tglI
representatives of the nation, lend
eountenance
IF our refusal to betray our nations
honor and the trust that has been
+ reposed in us is to be made an issue
OF war by Great Britain we deplore
it. We are as conscious of our re-
sponsibiltes to the living as we are
mindful of principle or of our obliga-
lions to the heroic dead.
We have not sought war nor do
we seek war, but if war he made upon
us we must defend ourselves. and
shall do so, confident that whether
our defense be successful or unsuc-
ceSsful, no body OF representative
Irishmen or Irishwomen will ever pro-
pose to the nation the surrender of
its birthright.
w e lOUS 10 emu tlle COHHICl DtlWeeH
Great Britain and Irealnd If your gov
ernment be determined to impose its
will upon us by force, and antecedent
to negotiations to insist upon condi-
tions that involve a surrender of our
whole national position and make ne
gotiation a mockery. the responsible
ity for the continuance of the conflict
rests upon YOU.
"On the basis of the broad guiding
principle of government by the con-
sent OF the governed. peace can be
secured-a peace that will be just and
honorable to all and fruitful of con-
cord and inducing to amity.
ITO negotiate such peace the Dali
Eireann is ready to appoint its repre-
sentatives and. if your government
accepts the principle proposed, to in
| vest them with plenary powers to
meet and arrange with you for its APP
plication in detail.
81 am. sir. faithfully yours.
"EAMONN DE VALERA"