Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-15
De Valera's Letter
to and Reply of
British Premier

Na ASSPAy Va
British Premier
London, Aug. 14-By The Asso-
ciated Press)-On August 10 canon
de Valera addressed the following
communication to Mr.. Lloyd George:
Sir:
ON the occasion of our last inter-
view | gave it as my judgment that
the Dali Eireann could not, and the
Irish people would not, accept the
proposals of your government, set
forth in draft July 20. Having con-
suited by colleagues, and with them
given these proposals most earnest
consideration I now confirm that
Judgment.
THE outline given in the draft is
self contradictory and the principle
Of the pact not easy to determine.
The extent that it implies recogni-
ton of Ireland's separate nationhood
and her right to self determination
we appreciate and accept it.
But in the stipulations and eX-
press conditions concerning vital
matters the principle is strangely
| set aside and Il claim advanced by
your government to an interference
in our affairs and to control which
| We ian not admit
''ireland's right to choose for her
self the path she shall take to real
lie her own destiny must be accepted
as indefcasible. 1t is a right that
has been maintained through CEN
turtles of oppression at the cost of
unparalleled sacrifices and untold
! sufferings.
I'VE can not propose to abrogate
| or impair it nor can Great Britain
or any other foreign state or group
Of states claim to interfere with its
exercise in order to serve their own
special interests
Declaring that it is Irelands de-
sire TO be free of imperialistic en-
tanglement Mr.. De Valera says:
Like the small states of Europe,
the Irish people are prepared to haz-
ard their independence on the basis
Of moral right. confident that as
they would threaten no nation or
people THEY would in turn be free
| from aggression themselves. = =.
AS for myself and my colleagues
!, our deep conviction IS that true
/ friendship with England. which mill
tary coercion has frustrated for
centuries, can be obtained most
readily now through amicable but
absolute separation. The fear,
| which we believe groundless, that
Irish territory may be used as the
! basis for attacks upon England's
! liberties can be met by reasonable
; guarantees not inconsistent with
, Irish sovereignty"
/ My. Dc Valera declares that a
! dominion status for Ireland is illu-
SionarY. He SAYS the freedom the
British domnions enjoy is less the
. result Of legal enactments or treaties
than OF immense distances which
separate them from Great Britain
/ and make interference by Great
Britain impracticable.
The most explicit guarantees in
Guiding the dominion's acknowledged
right to secede" Mr.. De Valera con-
tinucs. would he necessary to Sc
! cure for Ireland an equal degree of
( freedom. There is no suggestion,
however, in the proposals made of
any such guarantee"
/ Instead, the natural position is
/ reversed. Our geographical situa-
ton with respect to Great Britain is
made the basis of denials and re-
strictions unheard of in the case of
4 dominions. The smaller island must
give military safeguards and guar
! antees to the larger and suffer itself
/ to be reduced to position of help
less dependency.
/ OBVIOUSLY we are unable to urge
acceptance of such proposals upon
our people. A certain treaty of free
association with the British COM
monwealth group. as with a partial
league of nations, we would have
been ready to recommend and, as a
government, to negotiate and take
responsibility for, had we al assur-
ance that the entry of the nation as
a whole into such an association
would secure for it the allegiance of
the president dissenting minority.
To meet those sentiments alone this
step could be contemplated.
: Treaties dealing with proposals
for free inter-trad and mutual limi-
tation of ornaments we are ready at
any time to negotiate. Also mutual
agreement concerning air, railway
and other communications and gen
orally for the smooth commercial
intercourse essential to both nations.
But all such treaties and agree
ments we would require submitted
for ratification. first to the national
/ legislature, and afterwards to the
Irish people, in a manner showing
that their decision was a free de-
cision and without any element of
military compulsion."
! Mr.. De Valera offers to leave the
question of Ireland's share of the
national debt to arbitrator. one
each to be appointed by Ireland and
Great Britain and the third chosen
by agreement cor nominated. say, by
/ Continued on Page 4-CoI. g.