Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-17
IRISH LEADER VOICES DEMAND
FOR ABSOLUTE INDEPENDENCE
CONTINUED From First Pnrc !,

ing an oath of allegiance to tho Irish
| republic, an oath which in former
days would have been termed high
treason. and De Valeras reiterated
demand for the freedom of ireland
| British civil officials in Dublin. many
OF whom assert that they have chan
ncls of communication with the inner
Workings OF tho Sim Fcin. are still
hopeful of settlement of the Irish
problem.
British StiII Hopeful.
These officials tonight based their
| hopes on one section of De valcr;,s
| speech. in which he said:
I'm the general election. which. in
effect was II plebiscitc. the question
Was put To the Irish people what
form of government they wanted aud
how they wished to live. so that they
might have the opportunity OF work
| ing out for themselves their own ma
tional life in their own way.
The answer the people gave was
| unmistakablc. do not say their
answer WAS form OF government
so much because we are no republi-
can doctrinaircs; but il was for Irish
| freedom and Irish Independence. and
II was obvious TO everybody who
| considered the question that Irish in
dependence could not be realized at
the present time in any other way
so suitable as through IL republic
Irish Republic Sanctioned.
Hence ii WAS that an Irish re-
public. as such, Was sanctioned by
The representatives, OF the people and
that YOU. the representatives of the
people, came here and in public scs-
sion declared the independence OF
the nation and solemniy declared
your determination that YOU would
give your lives and everything YOU
had i'll an cndcavor to make that
expression OF the people effective. so
chat you would not merely in your
own hearts obtain recognition OF II.
but that you might secure rccogni-
tion of it from every nation through
out the earth"
This is taken by otncia;s here as
aifording an opportuuity for DE
Valera to accept a settlement OF the
controversy which does not involve
a republic.
Further on in his speech. DE Valera
quoted statesman VINO had advo-
Gated the principle of sclf-dcterni-
nation. and this. TO the official mind In
Dublin. points TO recommendation
by the Sim F'ein Cabinet To the Dali
Eircann 10 submit the imperial gov
crnm"nts offer To Il vote OF the pco-
pie Of ireland.
Ulster sun Distrustrui.
Meanwhile. according Ia the belief
expressed here tonight. De Valera
expects the government 10 apply
further pressure on Ulster 10 enter
the proposed Irish dominion while
retaining its local autonomy Nd
vices received in Dublin, however.
cen to show that the Belfast Of
iicials are less inclined than ever to
come 10 an agreement with Dublin.
Biz Belfast business men are cred
!,cd in these adv!ccs as being in.
creasingly distrustfui OF tho capacity
OF the Sim Fcin In practical affairs
No fresh revelations as TO the
course OF the negotiations between
Lloyd George and De Valera are cx-
pcctcd during tomorrow's proceed
ings when De Valera viii open the
session with a report OF his depart
ment which concerns the ncgotia-
tons as the correspondence Of to-
days address are considered to have
covered the ground.
Good Order Il Manifest.
Today's proceedings of the Dali
Eircann we're carried out with re-
markablc order and discipline. No,
single uniformed man was present.
~ the porter of the Mansion House.
where tho session was held in his