Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-08-27
VALERA REJECTS
BRITISH TERMS
Feeling of Hope Grows Despite
Blackness of Outlook; Will
Frame Reply to Premier.
OPTIMISM NOT ALL GONE
SCOTS at English Claim Of Dominion
Home RuIe-TelIs Dali Eireann Irish
Will Resist With Force-Declares
Secession Is Not in Question.

Dublin.-"We cannot and will not
accept these proposals"
When canon De Valera arose to ad
dress the Dali Eiream at its second
session he was evidently nervous. He
began to speak, hesitatingly, in Gaelic.
Then, turning toward the newspaper
men, he explained that he thought 1t
would be better to speak in English.
He said:
what ] have got to say is address
ed to the world. | will speak in Eng
fish because both foreign and British
papers misinterpreted my remarks and
because they are telling the world that
we turned down fair proposals"
He then repeated;
"We cannot and will not ON behalf
of the Irish nation accept the British
peace proposals"
There was a hush for q moment and
then all the men and women who could
be crowded into the room rose and
cheered the presidents remark.
They cheered also his declaration
that no partition of Ireland should be
proposed and that such a proposal
would not be accepted.
The president spoke of war-real
war-but towards the end of his speech
he seemed to arrive at more con-
ciliatory mood, especially toward u
ster. He said:
"The Irish question must be settled
upon a basis of right and justice. We
mean to arm ourselves to the utmost
in order to be able to resist to the ut
most of our power.
eve tell the people of the north Of
Ireland that we have no enmity against
them. We would make sacrifices for
them that we would never think Of
making for England, because they are
1rishmen living in Ireland. For one, I
would go long way to satisfy them"
His reference to the north carried
weight, because he was again cheered
as he made the statement.
Next in Importance to De Valera s
speech was general order read to the
officers and men of the Irish Republi-
can army. The order forecast that the
Republican soldiers would be called
upon to make greater sacrifices than
at any time in the past,
Frank p. Walsh occupied Il seat In
the body of this hall, but De Valera
saw him afd beCkoncd him to come TO
the sneakers dais, where he took a
seat at the left Of Speaker Sean Kelly.
AS Walsh advanced toward his seat
the cheers We're deafening, and these
were renewed when DE Valera declar-
ed that while Ireland could not vet
furnish national security for the S5,-
100000 raised in the United States he
pledged his word that every penny
would be repaid
Finance Minister Collins reported to
the Dali that the government has II
credit balance Of million pounds
sterling.
There Is n growing feeling of OPP
timism IN spite of the speeches.
Inc Dull ltireulln ADJOURNED It's pnO-
lie meetings indefinitely Hereafter it
will discuss In secret session the Brit
ish government proposals and its rr-
ply thereto.
Mr.. De Valera in his speech before
the Dali Eireann said.
"An association lin the British nni-
pire) that would be consistent with o,ir
right to see that we were to be the
judges of what are our own interests
a combination of that sort would, l be-
liege, commend itself to q majority of
my colleagues.
"But it should really be cOmbina-
ton In accord with the description the
British themselves gave of this offered
association. Free and friendly coop
Grafton is one thing and forced coop
Grafton another"
Mr.. De Valera went on to say that
there never had been union, therefore
there could not be secession, and that
if the negotiations We're to be con.
tinued Ireland should act as a separate