Evening star., 1921-08-16

the dali eireann at it's first public
session hel re today. Eamon de Valera.
the republi can leader, reiterated Ire
lands claim for separation from Great
Britain and declared the only govern
ministry of the dali eireann. the Irish
republican 'arliament.
He and Is colleagues. de Valera
said, had ado pted toward England the
principle laid down by Cardinal Mer-
cier of Belg ium toward Germany
that external authority was unlawful.
The Irish. he said, stood for the ideals
enthroned in the American Declara-
tion of Independence.
Mr.. de Valera provoked laughter by
describing the British attitude as
that of a great nation demanding
guarantees for it's safety from a small
one, when vt should be a big nation
guaranteeinA; safety to a small state.
The cabinel. Mr.. dos Valera declared,
did not think the British proposals
were just.
Points to Im'p0snilSIe Conditions.
Mr.. de Waller pointed to the vir-
tually impossible conditions SURROUNDS
ing negotiations with, the British gov
ernment, for the 2osi tion. he said. was
that of a man unarn aed facing a man
pointing a pistol.
There were people who wanted to
negotiate to save their faces, he con-
tinued. but the SiIln Fein would not
negotiate to save ta'ees. but to save.
If possible, bloodshe,1, and for right
and principle.
Mr.. de Valera sal 81 that at tomor-
rows session. beside recounting the
negotiations between the Irish and
British governments, he would, in a
general way. give an account of his
own department, and that afterward
the other ministers i5ould give ac-
counts of their DEPART ;lents.
The proposed reply t. Premier Lloyd
George. continued the president, would
be considered in private session. All
understood the seriousn3esS of the re-
ply, he declared, as the s;ritish govern
ment intended to make it an issue of
peace or war with the ish nation.
After the reply was snctioned and
ready for dispatch the tre would be
another public session of the dali
eireann. Mr.. de Valerlt continued
Further elections to Off re would oc-
cur. and then the parli; lment would
work upon the propositi, pn to be ad-
vanced by the new dali ministry.
Virtually Voted for ltepublic.
Mr.. de Valera asserted THAT Ireland
had at the elections virtually de-
clared by plebiscite for a republican
government, not because the peopIe
were republican doctrih, aires, but be-
cause Irish freedom and indepen{l-
ence could not at present be realized
in any other way.
Mr.. de Valera said that during his
talks with Mr.. Lloyd George the sub
ject of the freedom of sn 1all natio ms,
which the British premier advocated
during the war, had come up, and he
recognized the principles involved
there would be no need for neEotih-
tions.
I'VE recognize them anti will live
and die for them." the republican
leader exclaimed.
met here. in the first open sessi ON in
its history. to consider the E;ritish
governments Irish pea,e terms.
There were 130 members u resent. in
Guiding those who had beer released
from prison to admit of THEIR attend
ing the session. A great audience
crowded the gallery floor asJ cannon
de Valera led the membet's into the
chamber.
Prayer was offered in beginning
was administered to all the members
John T. Kelly was; reelected
speaker of the parliament. but he
declined the office, and. Prof. John
cluded and MIR. de Valert,, as head>of
the Irish republican got erning body,
had addressed the ass emblage, the
parliament adjourned.
VIII Tell Of Negoi tiations.
Mr.. de Valera in his address said
he would tomorrow give an account
of the negotiations " it'll Mr.. Lloyd
George, the British rrime minister,
after which the reply to the prime
ministers offer would be considered
in private session.
The members in attendance included
a half dozen womeJi, among whom
was Countess MarkYevicz.
The audience which assembled at
the Mansion House for the meeting Of
the dali eireann occupied seats in
the gallery and on the floor of the
chamber around the square space in
front of the dais.i in which the l3O
members who had accepted invita-.
tions to participate in the meeting oc-
cupied the battered armchairs and
sofas. Over the hais was the coat Of
arms Of the O'Neills, the clan of the
present lord ma.yor-a red hand on q
shield, with a swimming fish beneath.
1t was 11:15 o'clock when Mr.. de
Valera led the members into the
chamber. He was accompanied by the
ministers. of the republican cabinet,
by Lord Mayor O'Neill and by Frank
p Walsh. his American legal adviser
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