Evening star., 1921-08-15
De Valera Insists on Irish Right
IoSecedeD Denied 5yLloyd George
Correspondence Bet,peen Leader and British Premie,
Shows Them Completely at Loggerheads Big
Issues-Ulster Stands Firm Against Independence.
by the Associated Press.


, by the Associated Press.
LONDON. August 14.-On August 10
Eamon De Valera addressed the fol-
i lowing communication to Mr.. Lloyd
| George: "Sir: On the occasion of our
last interview 1 gave it as my judg-
ment that the dali eireann could not
| and the Irish people would not. ac-
cept the proposals of your govern
| ment. set forth in draft July 20. Hav-
ing consulted my colleagues. and with
| them given these proposals most
that Judgment.
1.-THE outline given in the draft is
self-eontradictory and the principle
, of the pact not easy to determine.
To the extent that it implies recog-
milton of Ireland's separate nation
hood and her right of self-determina-
! tiOn, we appreciate and accept 1T.
But in the stipulations and express
conditions concerning vital matters
the principle is strangely set aside
and a claim advanced by your govern
! mont to an interference in our affairs
ard to a control which we cannot ad-
nit.
Holds to Right to Choose.
+, 'Ireland's right to choose for her.
self the path she shall take to realize
her own destiny must be accepted as
indefeasible. 1t is right that has
been maintained through centuries of
sacrifices and untold suffering. We
cannot propose to abrogate or i'm
pair it, nor can Great Britain or any
! other foreign state or group Of states
claim to interfere with it's exercise in
| order to serve their own special in
terests"
Declaring that it is Ireland's de-
sire to be free of imperialistic en-
tanglements which will prove de-
structive of Irish ide als and he fruit
full only of ruinous wars and crush
ing 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"
Pins No Hope ON Dominion.
I Asserting that this Is the policy
that Irishmen have declared for in
plebiscite after plebiscite. Mr.. de
Valera continues:
''As for myself and my colleagues.
ueep COnNlCtlOn Is tndC true
| friendship with England, which mil
| itary coercion has frustrated for GEN.
| turies, can be obtained most readily
now through amicable but absolute
separation. The fear, which we be-
lieve groundless, that Irish territory
| may be used as the basis for attacks
upon England's liberties can be met
by reasonable guarantees not incon-
sistent with Irish sovereignty"
Mr.. de Valera declares that a do
minton status for Ireland ia illusory.
He says the freedom the British do
minions enjoy Is less the result of
legal enactments or treaties than of
rate them from Great Britain and
| make interference by Great Britain
| impracticable.
The most explicit guarantees. in
| cluding the dominions' acknowledged
right to secede," Mr.. De Valera con-
| tinues. would be. necessary to Sc
cure for Ireland an equal degree of
freedom. There is no suggestion.
however, in the proposals made of
i any such guarantee.
Natural Position Reversed.
Instead, the natural position il
| reversed. Our geographical situa-
ton with respect to Great Britain is
| made the basis of denials and restric-
| tions unheard of in the case of do
minions. The smaller island must
| give military safeguards and guar
antees to the larger and suffer itself
| to be reduced to a position of help
| less dependency.
| obviously. We are unable to urge
| acceptance of such proposals upon
our people. certain treaty of free
| association with the British common-
/ wealth group. as with partial
| league of nations. we would have
been ready to recommend, and, as a
i government, Ito negotiate and take
! responsibility for, had we an assur-
ance that the entry of the nation as
| a whole into such an association
| would secure for'it the allegiance of
the present dissenting minority. To
| meet those sentiments alone this step
could be contemplated.
Treaties dealing with proposals for
free intertrade and mutual limitation
of ornaments We are ready at any time
to negotiate. Also mutual agreements
concerning air, railway and other COM
munications. and generally for the
smooth commercial intercourse essential
to both nations. But all such treaties
and agreements We would require sub
mitted for ratification, first to the ma
tional legislature, and afterward to tho
Irish people, in a manner showing that
their decision was a free decision and
without any element of military COM
pulsion."
VIII Welcome U. 8. as Arbitrator.
Mr.. de Valera offers to leave the ques-
ton Of 1reland's share Of the national
debt to arbtirators. one each to be Sp-
pointed by Ireland and Great Britain
| and the third chosen by agreement "or
nominated, say, by the President of the
| United States He declares that the
question between the political minority
and the great majority of the Irish peo-
pie must be left for the Irish people
| themselves to settle.
We cannot admit the right of the
British government to mutilate our
country, either in its own interest or
at the call of any section of our popula-
] tion," the letter continues.
I we do not contemplate the employ
ment Of force. If your government
stands aside We can effect complete rec
onciliation. We agree with you that no
Our regret is that this wise and true
principle. which your government pre-
scribes to us for the settlement Of our
local problems, it seems unwilling to ap-
ply consistently to the fundamental
problem of the relations between our
i island and yours.
| %The principle we rely on in one
| case we are ready to apply in the
/ other; but should this principle not
yield to immediate settlement we are
willing that this question. too. should
be submitted to external arbitration.
! Responsibility With Britain.
! Thus we are ready to meet you in
all that is reasonable and just. The
| responsibility for initiating and ef-
| fecting an honorable peace rests pri-
marily, not with our government, but
| with yours. We have no conditions
| to impose, no claims to advance, but