The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-26
DevALERA
ANSWERED
BY PREMIER
Lloyd Ge orge Accuses
Irish Leader of ''Play-
ing With Phrases.

London, Aug. 26.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press.) - Premier Lloyd
George, replying today to Eamonn
/ de Valera, in alluding to the de-
mand for the recognition of Ire
land, as foreign power, says Mr..
de Valera "is playing with phrases
to suggest that the principle of
; government by the consent of the
governed compels recognition of
that demand on our part, or that
in repudiating we are straining
geographical and economic consid-
erations to justify a claim to as
cendancy over the Irish race"
The prime minister warns Mr..
de Valera that owing to "the action
being taken in certain quarters" it
Is dangerous to prolong the nego-
tiations. Therefore, while willing
to make every allowance, he can
not, he declares, prolong the mere
exchange of notes, but says he will
be happy to meet Mr.. de Valera and
his colleagues again.
Mr.. Lloyd George argues that the
states of the American union enjoy
no such range of rights as is offer
ed Ireland in the governments pro-
posals, which he says, we consid
er to fulfill your wish that the
principle of government by the
consent Of the governed should be.
the guiding principle"
Dublin, Aug 26.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press. )-Eamonn de Valera
was today reelected to his import
ant post as leader of the Irish re-
publicans with the title of "Presi-
dent of the Irish Republic" Arthur
Griffith, founder of the Sim Fein,
was elected vice president, and the
other members of the Dali Eireann
cabinet were again chosen to mem
bership in that body.
Dublin, Ireland, Aug 26.-(By
the Associated ress.)-The reply
Of Eamonn de Valera to Premier
Lloyd George sums up southern
Ireland's position on an Irish set
tlement, which is and must remain
unchanged, Mr.. de Valera declared
in addressing the Dali Eireann to-
day after reading the reply at the
public session of that body.
The Dali reelected Mr.. de Valera
and the members of the cabinet 1t
also sanctioned the loans of SOC, 900
pounds sterling in Ireland and 20,-
000, 900 pounds sterling in America
De Valera's Reply.
London, Aug. 26.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press. THE British govern
ment's peace proposals were laid
hoforo tho Doi1 EiroaDD which ra
jected them unanimously, but is
willing to negotiate on the princi-
pie of government by consent of
the governed, Eamonn de Valera
says in his reply to Mr.. Lloyd
George, the British prime minister.
The letter proposes that Great
Britain and Ireland appoint repre-
sentatives with plenary powers to
negotiate details on this principle.
E I'VE have not sought war nor do
we seek war, but if war be made |
upon us we must defend ourselves, |
and we shall do so." says Mr.. de
Valera's letter. I'VE long to end |
the conflict between Great Britain |
and Ireland" he adds.
The letter, which bears the date
of Aug. "a. reads:
1.-THE anticipatory Judgment 1 |
gave in my reply of Aug 10 has !
been confirmed l laid the propos- |
ais of your government before the |
Dali Eireann, and by an unanimous |
vote it has rejected them.
From your letter of Aug. 13 it |
was clear that the principle we are !
asked to accept was that the geo
propinquity' of Ireland to |
Great Britain imposed the condi-
ton of the subordination of Ire !
lands right to Great Britain's
interests as she now ex-
lists, and that the very length and /
persistence of the efforts made in |
the past to impel Ireland's acqui-
esence in a foreign domination i'm
posed the condition of acceptance |
Of that domination now.
I'VE can not believe that your |
government intended to commit !
itself to the principle of sheer mil !
itarism, destructive of information
al morality and fatal to the worlds |
peace. If a small nations right to /
is forfeit when q |
more powerful neighbor coyets its
territory for military or other ad-
vantageS, II Is supposed 10 inner
that there is an end to liberty. No |
longer can any small nation claim |
the right to a separate existence
Holland and Denmark can be made
to Germany, Belgium
to Germany or to France; Portu-
gal TO Spain.
"If nations that have been forcf-
bly, annexed to an empire lose
thereby their title to independence,
there can be for them no re-birth
10 freedom.
"In Ireland's case, to speak of
her seeding from a partnership
she has not accepted, or from an