Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-08-26
PEACE TERMS
ARE EREJECTED.
Principle of Government b,
Consent of Governed is In
sisted Upon by De Valera
WOULD NEGOTIATE PEACE
Offer to Name Representa-
tives to Garry on Negotia-
tionS Looking to That End

LONDON, Aug. 26.-The British
governments peace proposals were
laid before the Dali Eireann which
rejected them unanimously, but fs
willing to negotiate on the principle
of government by consent OF the
governor. Eamon de Valera says In
his reply to Premier Lloyd George.
The latter proposes that Great
Britain and Ireland appoint repre-.
sentatives with plenary powers to
negotiate details on this pinciple.
I'VE have not sought war nor do
we seek war, but If war be made
upon us we must defend ourselves
and will do So" says Mr.. de Valera's
letter. I'VE long to end the con.
hict between Great Britain and Ire-
land" he adds
The text of the letter which bears
the date of August "a reads:
THE anticipatory judgment gave
in my reply of August 10 has been
! confirmed. l laid the proposals OF
your government before the Dali
| Eireann and by unanimous vote j;
has been rejected by them.
From your letter of August 13,
| it was clear that the principle we
| are asked to accept was that the
| geographical propinquity of Ireland
to Great Britain imposed the condi-s
ton of the subordination of Ireland'aI
| right to Great Britain's strategic in.
| terest as she conceives them, and A.
the very length and persistence OF
the efforts made In the past to com-
pei Ireland's acquiescence In a for.
eign domination imposed the condt-
ticas of acceptance Of that domina-
4 lion now. a. -
II 1--WE cannot believe that your Eov-
erDment intended to commit itself
TO the principle of sheer militarism,
destructive of international morality
and fatal to the worlds peace. If a.
small nations right to Independence
| is forfeited when a more powerful.
neighbor covets it's territory for milf
tary or other advantages, it is sup
posed to confer there is an end to
liberty. No longer can any small ma
ton claim the right to separate ex-
istence. Holland and Denmark can
be made subservient to Germany,
! Belgium to Germany or France, POr-
tugal to Spain.
IF nations that have been forcibly
annexed to an empire, lose thereby
their title to independence there can
be for them no rebirth to freedom.
'In Ireland's case, to speak Of her
seeding from a partnership she has
not accepted. or from an allegiance
which she has not undertaken to rem
der. is fundamentally false just as
the claim to subordinate her inde-
pendence to British strategy is fun
| damentally unjust. To neither can
we. as representatives of the nations
| lend countenance.
"If our refusal to betray our ma.
tion's 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 conscious of re-
sponsibilities to the living as we are
mindful of principle or of our obli-
cations to the heroic dead. We have
not sought war nor do we seek war
but if war is made upon us We must
defend ourselves and shall do so con-
fident that whether our defense be
successful or unsuccessful, nobody OF
| representative Irish men or Irish
women will ever propose to the ma.
ton the surrender of its birthright.
I'VE long to end the conflict be-.
tween Great Britain and Ireland. II
| YOUR government be determined TO
impose it's will upon us by force, and
antecedent to negotiations, to insist
upon considerations that involve
surrender of our whole national pos
ition and make negotiation
mockery the responsibility Tor
| continuance Oh tHe eoHAiiNe
upon you. 80,
ION the basis OF the broad guidina
principle of government by consent
Of the governed peace can be Sc,
cured-a peace that will be just and
honorable to all and fruitful OF con-
cord and inducing to amity.
'"To negotiate such a peace the
Dali Eireann is ready to appoint lts
representatives and If your governs
ment accepts the principle proposed.
to invest them with plenary powers
to meet and arrange with you FOR itss
apnlication and detail
IT am, sir
"Faithfullv YOURS. :,
| (Signed) "EAMON DE VALERA,
The reply to Mr. de Valeras iet-&
Continued on page %