Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-09-01
VALERA REJECTS
BRITISH TERMS
Feeling of Hope Grows Despite
Blackness Of Outlook; win
Frame Reply TO Premier.
OPTIMISM NOT ALL GONE
SCOTS at English Claim Of Dominion
Home Rule-TeIIs Dali Eireann Irish
viii Resist With Foree-Deciares
Secession 10 Not In Question.

Dublin.-"We cannot and win not
accept these proposals"
When cannon De Valera arose to ad-
dress the Dali EIreann at its second
session he was evidently nervous. lie
began to speak, hesitatingly. In Gaelic.
Then, turning toward the newspaper
men. he explained that he thought Il
would be better to speak In English.
He said:
What ] have got TO say Is address
ed to the world. / Will speak In Eng
lish 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:
I'VE cannot and will not on behalf
Of the Irish nation accept the British
peace proposals"
There was hush for a 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 a more con-
cillatory mood, especially toward u
ster. He said:
sThe Irish question must be settled
upon basis Of right and Justice. We
mean to arm ourselves TO the utmost
I'm order to be able TO resist to the ut
most OF our power.
"We 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
Irishmen living In Ireland. For one, j
would go long way to satisfy them"
His reference 10 the north carried
weight, because he was again cheered
as he made the statement
Next In Importance to De Valera's
speech was a general order read To the
officers and men Of the Irish Repubi-
can army. The order forecast that the
Republican soldiers would be called
upon to make greater sacrifices than
at any time I'm the past
Frank L. Walsh occupied n seat I'm
the body Of the hall, but De Valera
saw him and beckoned him to come TO
the speakers dHis, where he took a
seat al the left Of Speaker Sean Kelly
AS Walsh advanced toward his scat
the cheers were deafening, and these
were renewed when De Valera declar-
ed that while Ireland could not yet
furnish national security for the So
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
credit balance of million pounds
sterling.
There is q growing feeling of op-
tlTnism I'm spite of the speeches.
The Dali Eireann adjourned Its pub
lie meetings indefinitely. Hereafter IL
will discuss In secret session the Brit
ish governments proposals and its re-
ply thereto.
Mr.. De Valera In his speech before
the Dali Eireann said:
IAN association Tin the British en-
pire) that would be consistent with our
right TO see that we were To be the
judges Of what are our own interests
a combination OF that sort would. be-
lieve, commend itself to a majority of
my colleagues.
"But IL should really be comblna-
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 he secession, and that
II the negotiations were 10 be con-
tinued Ireland should act as n separate
nation