The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-17
This Decision Means
] That LIN All Probability
Guerilla Warfare Will
Break Out Again With
Augmentation of Bit
terness On Both Sides
Situation Now Seems
Hopeless.

Dublin, Aug. 17.-Eamonn de Va
lera Irish republican leader, declared
today that the Dali Eireann would
not accept the terms offered by the
British government, extending to Ire
land an offer of dominion status.
De Valera made this declaration at
the second session of the Dali Eireann
held in the mansion house. to take up
the question of the negotiations with
Premier Lloyd George with regard to
a possible Irish settlement
From the reports this morning in
the British and foreign press said
Mr.. de Valera, ,--.tirere- seems to be
-ioubt as to what BUR attitude is to-
wards the British proposals. There
seems to be doubt as to whether what
/ have said or whether our letter
means acceptance or rejection.
There ought to be no doubt in
anybodys mind. We cannot and.
will not, on behalf of this nation, ac-
cept these terms.
There is an Indian proverb read
ing:
Fool me once, shame on you; fool
me twice, shame on me- The Irish
people will not be fooled this time.
ut is said we are offered the status
of dominion home rule for Ireland
the status of the British dominions.
Ireland is offered no such thing The
statement that Ireland is offered a
dominion status contained two false
hoods. Where is Ireland There is
no Ireland in the terms, but two
broken pieces of Ireland
What was offered was not even
dominion status. 1t was admitted that
deminions had the right to secede and
could get out if they desired. We are
told we must stay in whether we like
it or not.
"We are not claiming the right to
secede. There cannot be a question
of secession, because there has never
been a union.
Northern Ireland has regarded it.
self from its own viewpoint, and in
entering negotiations they need not
give up that point of view. | would
be willing to suggest to the Irish peo-
pie that they give up good deal in
order to have Ireland able to look into
the future without anticipating dis
tracing internal problems.
"All the time these negotiations
have meant an attempt to get into
touch with the people of the north
and tell them we have no enmity and
would make sacrifices for them which
we would never think OF making for
Britain. We will be ready to give
them every safeguard any reasonable
person could say they were entitled
to, and we are ready to leave the
question of the north to external ar
bitration, or leave the whole question
to external arbitration.
"England's claim is unreasonable.
The claims of the minority in Ireland
are unreasonable. But even unreason-
able claims we would be ready to con-
slider, and | for one would be ready
to go a long way to give way to them,
particularly to their sentiment, if we
could get them to come with us, and
consider the interests of their own
country and not be allying themselves
with. foreigners"
Mr.. de Valera said the Irish nation
did not stand between England and
the world and was not shutting up
the seas between the two islands.
I'VE have no enmity to England"
he declared. AT least, II this ques-
tion were settled believe there would
be none. The only enmity is to that
rule to which Irish people hate to the
marrow of their bonesf i}An va