The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-08-27
Defends Peace Terms as
Liberal Beyond All
Precedent.
ARGUES AGAINST
ANY SEPARATION
Government by Consent
of Governed Part of
Plan, He Says.

George. in a friendly. but dignified
reply to Eamonn De Valera's note
conveying Sim Fein's rejection OF
the governments peece terms. de-
cIares that the British government
cannot continue exchanging notes.
points out the limits 20 which he
has already gone. and again offers
to meet the Irish leader IN new
negotiations.
Lloyd Georges answer 20 De Val
era is. in effect. a plea to abandon
academic phraseoIogy and get down
to practical statesmanship-
Il am reluctant TO precipitate a
crisis" the British premier de-
clared. but ] must point out that
olongation Of the affair is i'm
possible"
MADE No Cosditieus-
Lloyd George declares his pro
found disappointment" at the terms
Of the Irish leaders letter. You
write Of conditions OF a meeting be-
tween us as though no meeting had
ever taken place" he says Il must
remind you therefore. that when i
invited you to meet me six weeks
ago. I made no preliminary condi-
tions You came TO London and eN-
changed views with me in three
meetings OF considerable length.
The proposals made you were
Sased upon full and sympathetic
consideration Of the views you ex-
pressed and were not made in . bag
q AA -
olleagues and I went TO the very
limit of our powers in endeavorins
to reconcile British and Irish inter
ests. Our proposals have gone rar
'eyond all precedent, and have been
>pproved as liberal by the whole
civIiIzed world. Your letter shows
no recognition Of this"
Denies Asking ssrresder.
The premier denied that the Brit
| ish proposals involved the surrender
| Of Ireland's entire national position.
| -~durinE her 10 subservience. con-
tending that ireland is Offered con
troll Of every nerve and fibre OF her
-ational existence" subject only 70
an agreement which would keep her
trade and transport between herself
ard Great Britain-"her best mar
ket"
We consider that our proposals
completely fulfil your wish that the
rrinciple Of government by consent
OF the governed be the broad guild
ing principle Of settlement" the Pre-
ni"r continues.
That principle was first devei-
~ned by England and is the main
spring Of all representative insti-
-..-i"-s She first created it and
spread IL throughout the world. II
4 IS now the very life OF the British
Commonwealth.
Argues Against Separation.
when you argue that the rela-
tions Of ireland To the British En-
0ire are comparable in principle tn
-N~sA ~ HOLLAND and Belgium To
the German states. find IL neces-
eorv to repeat that these are
premises which no British govern
-'ent of whatever complexion can
ever accent.
an demanding that ireland be
treated as a SEPARATE sovereign
power with no allegiance TO the
crown and no loyalty to the sister
/ nations If the commonwealth. YOU
are advancing the claims that the
lost famous nationalist leaders in
Irish history from Grattan TO Par
~n'' AND Redmond have specifically
disnwned"
Here the premier quotes the noted
TriSh leader Gratis as having said.
| "the ocean protests against the
Senaration OF the sea" and calls O.
mind o'ConneIrs speech TO the
uouse ~ Commons in 1870 when ne
said: Never did 4 monarch re-
ceive more undivided attention than
80 ~-nsont T-i-~ from the men VIII"
in ireland aritate for a reDeal OF
the union. Never was there 8
| srosser raIumny than to assert that
they wish to nrnduce separation OF
ne two countries"
IpsIsts On IRde~endepce.
/ Ilo~d George ards that the gov
ernment has now offered Ireland
',ore than o'Cnnn~Il and other Irish
'e"ae~s ever asked.
But we are met only by an un-
49, 'i6~d dem@nd tHa' we recognize
ireland as a foreign power" he
continues. TT is rlsyinR with
phrases to suggest that the prin-
ciple of government by consent OF
'he governed compels recognition
VI that demand on our part or that
by repudiating IL we are straining
It geographical or historical con-
siderations to Justify our claim 60
ascendancy over the Irish race.
I'VE do not believe that a per-
maneat reconciliation Of Great
Britain and ireland will ever be at
| taincd without return Of physical
and historical interdepeudence
which makes complete political and
economical separation imprsticable
| to both of u.s."
Quotes Abraham Lincoln.
\ Lloyd George quotes Abraham
Lincoln's inaugural address when
the Union was on the brink Of civil
war.
I'VE cannot separate, we cannot
remove the respective sections from
each other. nor build an impassable
wall between them"-adding that IL
Cannot be reasonably contcnded that
the relations between Great Britain
and ireland are any different from
that case.
| Il thought ! had made 1t ciesr."
] he says, both in my conversations
with you aud in subsequent oorinu-
l nications. that we can discuss M
settlement which Involves refusal
on the part OF ireland to accept our