New-York tribune., 1921-01-02
Sim Feiners Confirm Ar.
rival and Many in Lon.
don Say Government
Did Not Oppose Return
4. S. Vessel Held
By British Troops
None Allowed to Leave
Ship in Irish Port;
Gun Running Alleged

LONDON, Jan. (By The Associated
Press .-Eamon de Valera is in Ireland.
where che enjoyed his share of the
Christmas goose" was statement
made to-day at a meeting of the Irish
Vigilance Society by Tim McNulty, who
presided.
From The Tribunes European Bureau
Copyright, 1921 New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, Jan. 1.-The closest polti-
cal friends of Eamon de Valera, "Presi-
dent of the Irish Republic" told the
Tribune correspondent in Dublin to day
that De Valera is not yet in Ireland
This statement, however, was made as
an expression of opinion rather than
necessarily of fact, because it is evil
dent that De Valera's exact intentions
have been kept secret from the major
ity of his most trusted confidents.
The statement in New York yester-
day by Harry Boland, De Valeras sec
retary, that he had arrived safely in
Ireland, caused little surprise among
his followers in Dublin but it startled
the government officials into making an
elaborate military search of the steam
ship Ponta, the first cargo boat to ar
live in Ireland from America since De
Valera disappeared from the Waldorf
Astoria
Rumor of Ruse Persists
Among many in Ireland the feeling
persists that Boland's announcement
was designed to throw the authorities
OFT the scent again, just as d d the ru-
mors week ago that De Valera was
crossing on the Aqultana. The rumor
that the government connived in land
ing De Valera safely is secuted in Sim
Fcin circles.
The hope persists in Moderate quar-
ters ere, however, that De Valera is
reall in Europe, even if not in Ireland,
for Us authority would facilitate the
reopeping of the interrupted truce
pourtf riers.
THl superficial calm in Ireland was
orok6A yesterday with only one killing
that of private soldier who was
shot accidentally last night in raid
at Skihbereen. The mail train between
Limerick and. Ennis was held up by
armed men this morning.
Leading Sim Feiners and govern
ment officials alike deny knowledge of
the arrival here of De Valera. They
assert that he did not arrive on board
the steamer Pontia, and telephone
inquiry at several Irish ports failed to
reveal that the "President of the Irish
Republic" has made his entry into
ireland.
Boland's Statement Credited
Some Sim Feiners credit the state
ment of Harry Bolanl that De Valera
has landed on Irish soil, saying that
he would not have made such state
ment unless it was true.
1t is said that there would be no need
to arrest De Valera on the old charge
against him, shat of having escaped
from Jail, as he could be taken into
custody under the restoration of order
in Ireland act. The ground for the
detention Of Arthur Griffith, founder
of the Sim Fein organization, and
Professor John MacNcill, president of
he Sim Fein Volunteers. is the de-
sire of the government to ascertain
the responsibility for the alleged en-
ployment of republican funds on en-
ing the loss of the lives of troops, and
it is said this desire might include De
Valera as the alleged source of the
! funds.
There would be no difficulty in De
Valera remaining hidden here as long
as he chooses, as there are many per-
sons who would not risk harboring the
average suspect who would give him
asylum The expectation is that if
De Valera is in Dublin he first will
consult his intimates and then make
known his presence and await arrest.
British Guard American Ship
DUBLIN, Jan. (By The Associated
Press) The American steamer Pontia,
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