The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-05
TEXT OF IRISH REPLY
DECLARES REJECTION
OF TERMS IS final
tBy Associated press)

LONDON, Sept 5.--The text of re-
ply of the Irish Republican parliament
TO Prime Minister Lloyd Georges lat
est communication, signed by DeVa-
lera, follows:
I'VE, too, are convinced it is es-
sential that definite and immediate
progress should be made toward
basis upon which further negotiations
can proceed usefully.' and recognize
the futility of a mere exchange Of
argumentive notes. l therefore shall
refrain from commenting on the fall
laciUus historical references in your
last communication.
The present is the reality with
which we have to deal.
The conditions of today are the
results OF the past. Accurately sum-
ming up, and giving in simplest form
the essential data of the problem,
these data are:
Il The citizens of Ireland, &C.
knowledging no voluntary union with
Great Britain and claiming as their
fundamental and natural right to
choose freely for themselves the path
they shall take to realize their ma.
tional destiny, have declared. by an
overwhelming majority, for independ-
ence and to set up republic, and
more than once have confirmed their
choice
% Great Britain, on the other hand,
acts as though Ireland were bound to
her by a contract of union that for
babe separation.
The circumstances of the supposed
contract are notorious. Yet on the
theory of validity, the British govern
ment and parliament claimed to rule
and legislate for Ireland. even to the
point of partitioning Irish territory
against the will of the Irish, and
killing or casting into prison every
Irish citizen who refuses allegiance
The proposals of your government
submitted in the draft of July 20, are
based fundamentally on the latter
premises.
rejection Is lrrevocable.'
I'VE rejected those proposals and
our rejection is irrevocable. They are
not an invitation to Ireland to enter
into free and willing partnership
with the free nations of the British
commonwealth. They are an invita-
ton to Ireland to enter in the gulst
81 and under conditions which deter
mine status definitely inferior tx
that of these free states.
Canada, Australia, South Africa
and New Zealand all are guaranteed
against domination by the major state
not only by acknowledged constitu
tional rights that give them equality
of status with Great BRIAN and abso
lutte freedom from the control from tht
British parliament, but by the thous
ansd of miles that separate them from
Great Britain.
ireland would have guarantee!
neither of distance nor of right. The
conditions sought TO be imposed woult
divide her into two artificial states
each destructive of thes others influ
ence in any common council, and bot
subject TO military, naval and ecc
nomic control by the British govern
ment
THE main historical and, geographi
facts are not in dispute, burt your gov
eminent insists on viewing them fror
your standpoint, and we must be a
lowed to view them from sours. Tn
history you interpret as debating III
ion, we read as debating separation
Convinced of Right.
Our Interpretation of the fact {
geographical propinquity is oppose
no less Numerically. We are col
WINGED that ours is the true and jus
Interpretation and as proof are willin
that neutral and impartials arbitratc
should be the Judge.
You refuse and threaten ito give e
feet to your view by force. Our repl
must be that, if you adopt that cours
we only can resist, as generations b
fore us have resisted. Force will nj
solve the problem and it never will S