Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-08-15
IRISH LEADERS
CANNOT ACCEPT
BRITISH TERMS
De Valera Says Ireland Must
Choose the Path She Shall
Take In Working Out Her
Own Destiny.
tBy The Associated Press.)

ciated Press. Jon August 10, Ea-
NOM de Valera, addressing the
following communication to Mr..
Lloyd George, said:
"Sir: On the occasion of our
last interview gave it as my
Judgment that the Dali Eireann
could not, and the Irish people
would not, accept the proposals OF
your government, set forth in q
draft of July 20. Having consulted
my colleagues and with them Civ
en- these proposals most earnest
consideration. l now confirm that
Judgment. The outline given in
the draft is self contradictory and
the principle of the pact not easy
to determine. To the extent that
it implies recognition of Ireland's
separate nationhood and her right
to self determination we appreci-
ate and accept it.
'But in the stipulations and ex-
press conditions concerning vital
matters the principle is strangely
set aside and claim advanced by
your government to an interfer-
ence in our affairs and to a con-
troll which we cannot admit.
'Irelands right to choose for
herself the path she shall take
to realize her own destiny must be
accepted as indefensible. 1t is a
right that has been maintained
through centuries of oppression at
the cost of unparalleled sacrifices
and untold suffering. We cannot
propose to abrogate or impair IT,
nor can Great Britain or any 9th
or foreign state or group of states
claim to Interfere with its exer-
else in order to serve their own
special interests"
Declaring that it is Ireland's de-
sire to be free of imperialistic en-
tanglements which will prove de-
structive Of Irish ideals and be
fruitful only of ruinous wars and
crushing taxation, Mr. de Valera
says:
Like the small states of Europe,
the Irish people are prepared to
hazard their independence on the
basis of moral right, confident that
as they would threaten no nation
or people they would, in turn, be
free from aggression themselves.
Asserting that is the policy that
Irishmen have declared for in
plebiscite after plebiscite, Mr.. de
Valera continues:
CAS- for myself and colleagues,
our deep conviction is that true
with England, which
coercion has frustrated
for centuries, can be obtained
most readily now through AMIGA
BILE but absolute separation. The
fear, which we believe groundless,
that Irish territory may be used
as the basis for attacks upon Eng
lands liberties can be met by
guarantees not incon-
Sistent with Irish sovereignty"
Mr.. de Valera announces that a
dominion status for Ireland is IL
lusory. He says the freedom the
British dominions enjoy Is less the
result of legal enactments or trea-
lies than Of the great distance
which separate them from Great
Britain and make interference by
Great Britain impracticable.
"The most explicit guarantee, In
,luding the dominions' acknowl- |
,dged right to secede," Mr.. de Va |
era continues. would be neces-
AIRY to secure for ireland an equal
legree OF freedom. There is no
however, in the pro-
,osals. made of any such guaran-
ee."
"Instead,1 the natural position is
eversed. Our geographical situa-
ion with respect to Great Britain
$ made the basis of denials and
unheard of in the case
f the dominions. The smaller is
and must give military safeguards
nd guarantees to the larger and
uffer itself to be reduced to
of helpless dependency.
obviously we are unable to
rge acceptance Of such proposals
pom our people. A certain treaty
( free association with the British
commonwealth group. as with a
artial league Of nations, We wouldf
ave been ready to recommend
nd, as government. to negotiate
nd take responsibility for. had we
n assurance that the entry of the
alton as a whole into such an /,
ssociation would secure for II the
llegiance of the present dissent ,
lg minority: To meet those senti-
(Continued on Page Two.) II