Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-26
DALI ASKS FURTHER
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
Condemns EngIand's Offer of
Settlement of Irish Problem
as Unjust and impossible.


I BY Associated Press 20 Every Evening.
/ London, Aug 2e,--The British gov
ernment's peace proposals were laid
before the Dan Eireann, which re-
/ jected them unanimously. but IS will
/ ing to negotiate on the principle of
4 government by consent of the govern
ed. Eamon de Valera says in his re-
ply to Mr.. Lloyd George, the British
I premier.
The > letter proposes that Great
Britain and Ireland appoint represen-
tatives with pIenary powers to ne
gotiate on this principle.
sWe Do Not Seek War;
we have not sought war nor do
we seek war, but il war be made
upon as we must defend ourselves. and
we shall do So" says Mr.. de VaIera's
/ letter. we long to end the conflict
between Great Britain and ireland, :"
| he adds.
The letter. which bears date Of
August "a, reads:
/ The anticipatory judgment I gave
in my reply of August 10 has been
confirmed. laid the proposals Of
1 your government before the Dali
I Eireann and by unanimous vote It
has rejected them.
4 From your letter Of August n It
was clear that the principle we are
asked to accept was that the "geo-
4 graphical propinquity' Of Ireland to
Great Britain imposed the condition
of the subordination OF TreIand's right
20 Great Britain's strategic rights as
she conceived them, and that the very
Il l..
made in the past TO compel Iroianc's
acauiescence IN a. foreign domination
i imposed the condition Of acceptance
Il of that domination now.
Cites Small Nations Rights.
we cannot believe that your gov
ernment intended to commit itself tc
the principle Of sheer militarisrn, de-
structive Of international morality and
fatal to the worlds peace. If a small
nations right 70 independence is for
felt when more powerful neighbor
I feovets its territory for military on
: other advantages it is supposed TO in
fer there is an end to liberty No
longer Can any small nation claim the
right to a seperate existence. Hol-
land and Denmark can be made sub
servient to Germany. Belgium to Ger
many or 10 France. Portugal to Spain.
sCan There Be So Re-Birth Of Free.
domI-
I IF nations that have seen forcibly
) annexed TO an empire lose thereby
their title to independence, there can
be for them no re-birth to freedom
'In Ireland's case. to speak Of her
Il seeding from partnership. she has
not accepted or from an allegiance
J which she has not undertaken 10
!, render is fundamentally false, just as
the claim TO subordinate her indie
pendence &c British strategy is funda-
j mentally unjust. To neither can We
| as representatives Of the nation, lend
4 tcountenance.
i Mindful OF Our Obligations.
4 eff our refusal to betray our ma
tons honor and the trust that has
been reposed in US has 70 be made an
issue OF war by Great Britain. we de-
!. plore it. We are as conscious of our
responsibilities TO the living as we
I are mindful OF principle or of our
obligations to the heroic deao.
I'VE have not sought war nor dc
we seek war. but if war be made upon
us we must defend ourselves and shall
do so, confident that whether our de-
i fense be successful or unsuccessful
nc body of representative Irishmen or
Irish women win ever propose to the
ration the surrender of its birthright
Responsibility Rests With England.
we long TO end the conflict be-
tween Great Britain and Ireland II
your government be determined to
impose its viii upon US by force. and
antecedent to negotiations 70 insist
upon conditions that involve a sur
render OF our whole national position
and make negotiations a mockery, the
responsibility for the continuance OF
the conflict rests upon you"
Points Way TO Peace.
"On the basis Of the broad guiding
principle OF government BY the con-
q sent of the governed peace can be Sc
cured--a peace that will be just and
honorable to all and fruitahle OF con-
cord and inducing 20 amity.
ITO negotiate such peace the Dai
Eireann is ready to appoint its rep
i resentatives. and. IL your government
accepts the principle proposed. 70 in
Vest them with plenary powers tC
meet and arrange with you Tor its ap-
plication in detail.
Il am, sir.
Faithfully yours.
(Signedl 'Eamon dc Valera
The reply TO Mr.. de Valera's letter
probably viii be drawn today, tht
| British cabinet having met and con
sidered the Irish Republican leader:
communication.