The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-09-05

In Very Short Time
London. Sept. 5.-Members of the
British cabinet will be called upon to
reach Il decision on Wednesday either
TO continue negotiations with Sim
Fein Ireland on the basis of the "con
sent of the governed" or issue an ulti-
matum to the Irish republicans to ac-
cept or reject the government pro
poSalS looking to settlement of the
Irish question. The reply of Eamonn
de Valera and his associates to the
latest note from Premier Lloyd George
made public here yesterday did not
break off negotiations with the Brit
ish government, hut it was admitted
here today that the situation had lost
rone of its gravity.
There appeared to be no Thought of
retreat expressed in the Sim Fen re-
ply to the English prime minister and
it seemed the situation remained as
it was before the last exchange of
letters between Dublin and London
There was a disposition here today to
think thai the negotiations would con-
tinue. but it was apparent that the
parties in the controversy had not
reached anything like a common un-
derstanding which would serve as a
basis for further parleys. Patience
was counselled, however, in the hope
thai some way out of the maze might
be found.
Dispatches from Ireland would
seem to reflect desire of the Sim
Fein to bring Ulster, or at least the
counties of Armagh and Fermanagh.
into the Irish republican fold. Michael
Collins. minister of finance in the cab
met of Eamon de Valera and COM
mander in chief of the republican
army spoke at Armagh and made an
appeal to Ulster to stand with South
crn Ireland against partition. At the
same meeting, Owen O'Duffy. chief
liason officer for northern Ireland in
the republican army, threatened Ul-
ster with an increased boycott if she
Gid not come into United Ireland, y
adding. according to report:
IF that is unsuccessful we will
bring lead against her Sir James
Craig, premier of Ulster, has not
shown the slightest indication that he
intends to meet the Sim Fein leaders
in peace conversation.
With the exception of the Morning
Post which said: 1T is impossible
to make terms with a rattlesnake,
Text of Irish Reply
The reply, which is addressed to
Mr.. Lloyd George and signed by Ea~
NOM DeValera. was given out at the
prime minister's official residence last
night. The text of the communication
follows:
1--WE, too, are convinced it is essen
tial that some definite and immediate
progress should be made toward a
basis upon which further negotiations
can usefully proceed, and recognize
the futility of mere exchange of ar
gumentative notes.
We shall, therefore, refrain from
commenting upon the falacious his
torical reference in your last COM
munication. The present is the real
ity with which we have to deal.
Acknowledge No Voluntary Union
1.-THE conditions today are the re-
suits of the past. Accurately sum-
ming up and giving in simplest form
the essential data of the problem,
these data are:
First. The people of Ireland ac-
knowledge a voluntary union with
Great Britain and claiming as their
fundamental and natural right to
choose freely for themselves which
path they shall take to realize their
national destiny here, by an over
whelming majority, declared for in
dependence and to set up a republic,
and, more than that have confirmed
their choice.
Second. Great Britain, on the 9TH
er hand, acts as though Ireland were
bound to her by contract of union
that forbids separation.
"The circumstances of the pro-
posed contract are notorious. Yet, on
the theory of it's validity, the Brit
ish government and parliament
claimed to rule and legislate for Ire
land, even to the point of partition
ing Irish territory against the will OF
/the Irish people and killing or casting
into prison every Irish citizen who
refuses allegiance. The proposals
your government submitted in the
draft of July 20 are based fundament-
ally on the latter premises. We reject
ed these proposals and our rejection
is irrevocable. They are not an invi
tation to ireland to enter into will
ing and free partnership with the
free nations of the British common.
wealth. They are an invitation to Ire
land to enter in the guise of, and un
der conditions which determine