Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-17
FREE IRELAND
Continued from Page One)


taking any oath of allegiance to the
Irish republican oath which in
former days would have been term
ed high treason-and DE Valera S
reiterated demand for the freedom
CO Ireland. British civil officials in
Dublin are still hopeful OF a settle
ment of the Irish problem.
These officials tonight based their
hopes on one section OF De Valera S
sreech in which he said:
In the general election. which in
effect was a plebiscite. the question
was put to the Irish people what form
of government they wanted and how
they wished TO live so that they might
have the opportunity Of working out
for themselves their own national life
in their own way.
The answer the people gave was
unmistakable. / do not say their an
swer was for a form Of government
so much. because we are no republican
doctrinaires: hut it was for Irish
freedom and Irish independence. and
it was obvious to every body who CON
pendence could not be realized at the
present time in any other way so
suitable as through a republic
Hence it was that an Irish repub-
lie as such was sanctioned by the
representatives of the people, and
! that you. the representatives of the
people. came here and in public ses-
sion declared the independence of the
nation and solennly declared your de-
termination that you would give your
! lives and everything you had in an
endeavor to make that expression of
the people effective. SO that you would
have not merely in ynur own hearts
recognition of it, but that you might
secure recognition Of it from every
nation throughout the earth"
This is taker by officials here as
affording an opportunity for Air. DE
Valera to accept a settlement Of the
controversy which does not involve a
republic.
Further on Mr.. De Valera quoted a
statesman who had advocated the
principle of sclf-determination and
this to the official mind in Dublin
points to recommendation By the
Sim Fein cabinet to the Dali Eireahn
to submit the imperial government
offer 10 vote Of the people of ireland
Meanwhile. according to the hclief
expressed here. Mr., De Valera ex-
poets the government to apply fur
Their pressure on Ulster to enter the
proposed Irish dominion. while retain.
ing its local autonomy. Advices re-
celVtd in Dublin, however, seem to
show that the Belfast officials are less
inclined than ever to come to an agree
ment with Dublin
NO fresh revelations as to the course
or the negotiations between Mr.. kloyd-
George and Nj. De Valera are ex-
pected during tomorrow's proceedings
when Mr.. De Valera opens the session
with a repart of his department which
concerns the negotiations
Today's proceedings Of the Dali
Eireann We're carried out with Der
feet order
There were many prominent persons
present and some notable absentees
Joseph Devlin. who was elected a
member was in town but he spent ths
day with old Nationalist friends ana
ala not answer the roll call With the
exception of Mr. De Valera. who was
elected from town. and MIR Collins
member from Armagh. all tn. other
representatives from Ulster aJsentcd
themselves
An interested spectator was John
II. Parnell brother Of the late Irish
leader. Other persons in the assem-
hlage included " few Unionists. among
them Sir Andrew Fcattle, and scat
tering of Naticnalists.