Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-15
IRISH REQUEST FOR
MORE IMPORTATION

London, Aug. 15.-On August 10
Eamon de Valera addressed the follow
ing communication to Mr.. Lloyd
George:
"Sir-On the occasion of our last
interview I gave it as my judgment
that the Dali Eireann could not and
the Irish people would not accept tho
proposals of your Government as set
forth in the draft of July 20. Having
consulted my colleagues, and with them
given these proposals most earnest con
sideration, l now confirm that judg-
ment.
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
or lreland's separate nationhood and
her right to self elf-determination, we ap-
preciate and accept it.
Cannot Admit Interference
But in the stipulations and EXPRESS
conditions concerning vital matters the
principle is strangely set aside and n
claim advanced by your A6evernment to
an interference in our affairs and to a
control which we cannot admit.
"Ireland's right to choose for herself
the path she shall take to realize her
own destiny must be accepted as in
defeasible. 1t is a right that has been
maintained through centuries of oppres-
sion, at the cost of unparalleled sacri-
fees and untold suffering. We cannot
propose to abrogate or impair it, nor
Sun gu. ureat Drl'ath or any otner foreign
state or group OF states claim to inter-
, ,ere wlul lts exercise IN oraer TO serve
'hgIr own speGiai interests.
Deciarlng tnat 1t Is ireiand's desire
10 De free OF imperlallstic entangle-
menus which VIII prove destructive 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 Npeople, they
would, in turn. be free from aggression
themselves"
Asserting that this il the policy that
Irishmen have declared for in piebiscite
after plebiscite. Mr.. de Valera con-
tinues:
"As for myself and nv colleagues,
our deep conviction is that true friend
ship with England, which military coer-
be obtained most readily now through
amicable but absolute separation. The
si WJt tnrrtor we eGNe h ss% tSs bas ,nds
for attacks upon England's liberties
can be met by reasonable guarantees
not inconsistent with Irish SOW
ereignty:
MIR. De valera declares that a DO
mlnion status Tor ireland IS lllusory.
he says that the freedom the BRUSH
dominions ENJOY Is less tne result OF
iegai enactments 1or treaties than OF
the immense DISTANCES whlch separate
theh rom ure1t prI5a,n anu liahe
interference ny "reat pri'aih iihprac-
ticn9,e. . ,,.,. . =,
- ihe inos' e~Plien suarahtees, ih
c!uuthg tne uoi','H,Ehs @ aGknoWieuseu
Iiisnt u seeuus' NJ. ue naieru son
tlhues, wouid ue hcIeSsuiy 1y 70 seIur'
M M ileiahu az .iun, HesieI VI ilecuoiti.
th nere - nH ndo nusse'o os a. nowJsea, h % ~
ane pfopo'"'S i'aue VI any sueh sual'
"hteI '1,s.ood tho rotrro, ,os;t,o, :.
uo.nJ orr uonauonbio,I po. a;tWat,on
,s,.,. ren1ieeu. t ~ st Rn;.a, aJa
MN ieSpe.. " JuiaIa nd ,n s.s;o.iaus IS uaus
rnI oas's ~ 'S ~ 80 ahu ~ Sor,;n;ons
nrI uihearu ~ ~ .n S"so VI aiita,.
Ine siianet i,'nnu iiass sN.
end sutor ,tssIf % 70 ho reJmcsT % 70 nosi.
uhu SUIT Ia,nIs i.Se,a ~ " De ieuuoeu " po''
ton OF helpless dependency.
Unable to Urge Accordance
obviously we are unable TO urge ac-
ceptance OF such proposals upon our
people. A certain treaty OF free 1850
citation with the British commonwealth
group, as with partial League OF Ma
tions, we would have been ready to
recommend, and, as Government. to
negotiate and take responsibility for.
had We an assurance that the entry OF
the nation as a whole into such an
association would secure for it the al
legiance of the present dissenting mi
nority. To meet those sentiments alone
this step could be contemplated.
Treaties dealing with proposals for
free intertrade and mutual limitation OF
armaments we are ready Mt any time to
negotiate. also mutual agreements con-
cerning 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 reGuire sub
mitted for ratification. first TO the mn.
tionai legislatures and afterward n tba
Irish neonle. in a manner showing that
their decision was a free dec;sioS and