The Washington times., 1921-01-01

BY IRISH CHIEF
Scotland Yard Chagrined-
tive Head of Republic Hiding
In Dublin, Belief.
MAY ENTER PEACE PARlEYS
Some Officials Think Report OF
Exi|e'S Return From U. S.
Is Only Blind"

LONDON, jan. l.-Eahoh ue
Valera, President of the Irish Re-
public, who, according to official an
nouncement in New York yesterday,
has returned to Ireland, Will be
placed under arrest on a technical
charge upon sight, it was learned at
the Irish Office this afternoon. II
was pointed out. however. that. II
certain guarantees were given, de
Valera would not be molested.
SECRET SERVICE BUSY.
Secret service agents are making
thorough search in Ireland for DE
Valera.
Scotland Yard officials are deeply
chagrined over the ease with which
the Sim Fen leader eluded them.
Some of the officials went so far as
to express doubt as to the truth III
the information that De Valera Is in
ireland.
De Valera is supposed to be in or
near Dublin, but his exact hiding
place has been kept q secret. 1t is
regarded as possible that he may
enter into the Irish peace negotia-
tons at once without revealing his
hiding place.
SEARCH LINER IN VAIN.
News that the Irish President had
returned home reached the persistent
| reports that he was sailing on the
| liner Aquitania. Scotland Yard had
| received positive information on De-
| ccmber Il that de Valera was return
| ing off the Aquitania. but when the
| liner was searched at Southampton.
| no trace of the elusive Irishmau WAS
| found.
| 1t was held possible that de Valera
| had been upon the liner, leaving her
| at French port. 1t would have
been easy for dc Valera to cross from
France or Spain to Ireland in .
small boat or even a sailing freighter.
| Inquiries at Dublin Castle ELECTED
| the information that the British Of
ficials are without any information
| as to the present whereabouts of dc
| Valera, said a Dublin dispatch.
| Some of the officials advanced tho
| opinion that de Valera may still b
| in America and that the announce
ment of his return to Ireland was
a blind to throw the authorities on
| the real track.
awe have no Information on Dc
Valera's whereabouts" 1t was an
nounced at the office Of Arthur
O'Brien, president of teh Irish Self
Determination League. O'Brien hiTa-
self was absent. He has been away
from his office for about a fortnight.
and IL was explained that he was i'll
The possibility was pointed out. how
ever that OBrien and de Valera may
be together.
The opinion prevails in official ci>.
cles that O'Brien will be dc ValeraS
Intermediary in peace negotiations.
O'Brien is known as the Sim Fcin
ambassador" in London and Is ono OF
the most powerful figures in the in
ncr councils of the Sim Fein organi-
zation.
The Dublin correspondent Of the
Star says tremendous sensation was
created by news OF de Vliera's re-
turn. Raids are occurring with in
creasing frequency in Dublin, and it
is believed the soldiers and Black and
Tans are really searching for de
Valera.
The Irish office was in telephone
communication with Dublin Castle for
n considerable time this morning in
an effort to get some light on de
Valera's whereabouts.
3sO KILLED IN YEAR.
Three hundred and sixty persona
were killed In Ireland during 1920.
These figures were revealed by the
official casualty chart of the Irish
Office today. Despite the large num-
ber killed. british officials were opti-
mistic over the peace outlook In 1Oxf
They bnsc their hopes upon the fs~t
that the Irish people arc tired of Vie
iencc md ycsrn for tranquility.
Tho casualties were listed as fol-
lows:
Killed. wounded.
Police ...,,,.... 176 26i
Soldiers ...... 81 i2s