The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-03-19
De Valera Gives
Interview

Ouoiiu, MATCH 10 10y the ASSO-
ciated Press) de Valera,
leader of the Republicans and presi-
dent Of the Irish Republic" gave a
personal interview today to the AS
sociated Press correspondent. This
is the first interview he has accorded
to any newspaper representative since
his return from the United States to
Ireland.
II any proof Of the extraordinary
precautions taken by his devoted fol-
lowers to insure his protection were
needed, it was afforded by the eX-
treme care taken in escorting the
correspondent to and from the pres
ence of the Irish leader. For an hour
after leaving Mr.. De Valera the cor
respondent was under the closest sur
veillance not only from his escort
but, as it seemed, from everybody in
Dublin.
In the course of the conversation
which lasted three-quarters " an
hour, Mr. De Valera told of the inn
pressions he had brought back from
America and remarked:
THE saddest thing there to me was
to see the Irish question treated by
so many people as if it were 4 re-
ligious wrangle. 1t is not a religious
question even insofar as the differ
ence here between the north and
south are concerned"
He spoke bitterly Of the English
governments lack Of principle and
statesmanship." England" he said,
lis trying to win by playing on hu-
man weakness. AS matter of
fact though it does not realize it,
England is playing not on the weak
nesses but the strongest quality of
the Irish people--their spiritual.
quality The young men of Ireland
are saying to themselves: At best
the span Of life is only 20 years. We
must all die; SO why not now in cir
cumstances like these. Never, per-
haps, as by dying in such a cause as
Ireland's could we do SO much for
the world
England may try to contend that
men like those executed in Mount
JOY were murderers She will find it
much harder than she imasines to
get the world to accept that view"
The Irish leader is in excellent
health, but his friends in America
would hardly recognize him, for he
is on the run and naturally does not
reveal himself unnecessarily. OBJ
viously it would not do to describe
his appearance in detail, but he looks
extremely fit and conveys the i'm
preston of being free from any sense
of personal danger.
The volunteer, who conducted the
correspondent to De Valera's resi-
dence, said that. despite the protests
of his friends, De Valera persisted in
working strenuously from o'clock
in the morning until II o'clock at
night.
The interview was a complete sur
prise. Until l5 minutes before it
took place the correspondent had no
intmaton that it would be accorded.
A questiOnnaire for submission to the
president through the same channels
as were used in the submission Of
the questionnaire of last January had
been prepared, and the correspondent
was proceeding to the rendezvous for
that purpose when suddenly he was
| invited to climb into the side car Of
q motorcycle and don goggles. which
cffectually blindfOlded him. The car
sped through Dublin by way Of an
| intricate route. and after an indeter-
inmate period the correspondent
found himself in well furnished liv-
ing room and soon in the presence of
| De Valera.
Twice after leaving the house the
correspondent was held up and ex-
| amned first by members of the Irish
| Republican army within sight of the
presidents residence and, second, for
tuitously by the military.