The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-17
De VALERA DENIES that
DOMINION STATUS HAS
BEEN REALLY OFFERED
Hope Held for Settlement
Grows Dim at Gather
ing of Dali Eireann.

Dublin, Ireland, Aug. H.
| By the Associated PreSs.)-
Hope for an early settlement Of
the Irish problem and possible
acceptance of the British gov.
ernment's offer of dominion
status for Ireland, seemed 10 be
dim when the Irish republican
parliament began the second
day of its session here today.
Yesterdays events, the pledge
OF fealty TO the Irish republic
by members of the parliament,
and the address of EamOnn de
Valera, chieftain of the Sim
Fein, to the effect that the Brit
iSh proposals will be rejected,
appeared to have removed into
the indefinite future an agree
ment that would end the con-
trOVersy that for generations
has embittered relations be-
tween England and Ireland.
An entirely fresh audience was IN
the Mansion House today for the
session of Dali Eireann, it having
been decided to issue new tickets
each day so as to satisfy the de-
mands of the thousands who want
to attend the sittings.
AS soon as the applause given
the members as they entered had
died down, the Dali Eireann pro-
ceeded to business, Mr.. de Valera
taking up the QuestioRt~of the ne
gotiations.
1t was understood before the ses-
sion that the members Of the Dali
were discussing privately the posi-
bility of including Ulster to join
southern Ireland or an alternative,
accepting the status OF a separate
dominion.
A wide difference of opinion apr-
pears to prevail.
Merely Precauffon.
London, Aug. 17.-(By the AS
sociated Press) s)-Measure taken to
recall British troops on leave, TO
their units in Ireland, announced
yesterday, were stated in official
circles here today, to be purely
Of a precautionary nature.
1t was claimed that the move was
not aggressiVely precautionary be-
cause the last thing the British gov
ernment would do would be to take I
any steps to break the Irish truce. 3
1t was declared that it was real &
lied in official circles, that the FIR
ing of the first shot by either side
would mean a sporadic outbreak OF I
fighting throughout southern Lee /
land.
To Reject Terms.
Dublin, Ireland, Aug 17.-(By .
the Associated Press l-EamOnn de /
Valera, Irish republican leader, de- /
clared today that the Dali Eireann .
would not accept the terms offered
by the British government extend
ing to Ireland an offer of domin-
ion status.
De Valera made this declaration
at the second session of the Dali
Eireann. held in the Mansion house,
to take up the question Of the ne
gotiations with Premier Lloyd
George with regard to a possible
Irish settlement.
From the reports this morning
in the British and foreign press"
De Valera said, there seems to be
no doubt as to what our attitude
is toward the British proposals. .
There seems to be doubt as to .
whether what l have said or wheth-
er our letter means acceptance or I
rejection.
There ought to be no doubt in
anvbody's mind. We can not and
will not. on behalf Of this nation,
accept these terms.
There is an Indian proverb that
reads:
Fool me once, shame on you;
fool me twice, shame on me-
THE Irish people will not be
fooled this time.
1T is said we are offered the
status Of dominion home rule for
Ireland the status of the other var
ious British dominions. Ireland Is
offered no such thing. The state
ment that Ireland was offered
Continued on Page Fifteen.l