Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-09-15

CelleQii the arrangements Tor a
conference Of Sim Fein delegates
with himself and members OF his
cabinet at Inverness on Septem-
bcrs 20. 4
Dublin. Sept. 15.-Eamonn de Va
lera in his reply to Premier Lloyd
George, accepts the invitation to the
proposed Inverness conference in the
terms of the final paragraph of Mr..
Lloyd Georges. last letter. but re-
affirms Ireland's independence as a
ly as representatives Of such have the
Irish nesotiators any authority.
Text Of Reply.
The text Of the reply of Eamonn
de Valera to Premier Lloyd Georges 8
latest communication is as follows:
i I'VE are lunhesitating in declaring
our willingness to enter a conference
to ascertain how the association of
Ireland with sthe community Of ma
tions known as the British empire can
best be reconciled with Irish national
aspirations.
readiness tof contemplate such
an association was indicated in our
letter Of August 20. We have, accord
ingly summoned thes Dali that we
!. may, submit to it for ratification the
names Of the representatives it is our
intention to propose We hope that
these representatives will find 1t pos
sble to be at Inverness on the date
you suggest, September 20.
3"1n this final note we deem our
duty to rcaffirm that our position. Is,
and can only be, as we have defined 1t
throughout this correspondence. Our
nation has formally declared its inde-
pendence and recognizes itself as "a
sovereign state. 1t is only as the rep
resentativo of that state and as Its
!; chosen guardians that we have au-
thority&or power to act on behalf OF
our people. III
"Asyregard the principle OF govern
nent by consent OF the governed in
tlns.very nature Of things, 1t must be
the. basis of any. agreement that h VII VII
achieve the pursp pose we hay at, hsart
that is the final reconcil afi9n ofS6ur
nation with yours. VI 3; "A, !,
1--WE suggested no. Interpretation 81, 81
that principle save in3Eevery day ID
depreciation. the sense, for exarnpte
in which It was understood bysfhe
PLAIN men and women of the Worio
when on January; 1918, you said:
!. Basis for Settlement. &
o..
must be based on such grounds OF
reason and justice as will give some
promise Of stability. Therefore 1t Is
that we feel that government with the
consent of the governed must be the
, basis OF any territorial settlement IN
this war"
These words are the true answer
to the criticism of our position which
(; your last letter puts forward. The
principle was understood then to
mean the right of nations that had
been annexed to empires against their
will to free themselves from the
graphing hook. That Is the sense IN
which we understood It. In reality y
J is your. government, when It seeks to
rend our ancient nation and to par.
tition its territory, that would give to
the principle an Interpretation that
would undermine the fabric Of every
democratic state and drive the clvll-
lied world back into tribalisn.
IT am, Sir, faithfully yours
"Eamonn de Valera.
Premier Replies.
s& London, Sept 15.--:Premier Lloyd
] George has replied to the latest com
munication Of Eamonn de Valera on
l the question Of an Irish settlement
q 1t was announced late today. The re-
ply, it was stated would be Given s. ''1Ll1 otli
N at once. Efa5 y y lss3 tss !!iS n
Later it said there would be some
u delay in giving out the reply but Ataa1
s5it was still expected 1t would pe made
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