Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-17

London, Aug. 16.-(By The Asso-
ciated Press. ALI soldiers on leave
from Ireland in Aldershot and
, Marlborough have been ordered by
telegraph to return to their regi-
ments Immediately.
Dublin, Aug. l6.-The Irish re-
publican Parliament met here today
in the first open session in its his
tory to consider the British govern
ment's Irish peace terms. There
were l30 members present, includ--
ing those who had been released
from prison, to admit Of their at
tending the session. A great audi
ence crowded the gallery floor as
Eamonn de Valera led the members
into the chamber.
PRAYER was offered in beginning
the ceremonial, and then the oath
was administered to all the members
en- mass. John T. Kelly was re-
elected speaker of the Parliament,
but he declined the office and Prof.
Tohn Mcneil was chosen.
After the formalities had been
concluded and Mr.. De Valera, as
head of the Irish republican govern
irp body. had addressed the assem-
biage. the Parliament adjourned.
De Valera to Report.
Mr.. De Valera in his address said
lie would tomorrow give an aceoun,
OF the negotiations with MIR. Lioyo
George, the British prime minister
after which the reply to the prime,
minister's offer would be considerea
in private session. :.
The members i'll attendance IN
cluded a half dozen women. among
whom was Countess Markievicz:
The opening of the Republican
Parliament was in marked contrast
to that of the northern Irish parlia-
ment at Belfast recently which was
attended by King George. Unlike
Belfast, Dublin was not decorated
today and in place of the military
at Belfast, only traffic policemen
were in sight.
The crowds stood about the Man
sion House for hours in down.
pour of rain. Most members of the
Dali Eireann were unknown to the
throng which reserved its cheers tor
De Valera and other recognized
leaders. Admission to the hall was
by ticket.
Renews Autonomy Demand.
In opening the Dali Eireann, De
Valera reiterated Ireland's claim tor
separation from Great Britain and
declared the only government the
people recognized was the ministry
OF the Dali Eireann, the Irish re-
publican parliament.
He and his colleagues. De Valera
said, had adopted towards England
the principle laid down by Cardinal
Mercier OF Belgium towards Ger
many-that external authority was
unlawful. The Irish, he said, stood
for the ideals enthroned in the
American declaration of independ-
ence.
Mr.. De Valera provoked laughter
by describing the British attitude
as that of a great nation demanding
guarantees for its safety from a
small one, when it should be big
nation guaranteeing safety to a
smaller state.
Proposals Unjust"
The cabinet, Mr.. De Valera de-
clared, did not think the British pro-
posais were just.
Mr.. De Valera pointed to the viz
tually impossible conditions sur
rounding negotiations with the Brit
isl government, for the position, he
said, was that OF man unarmed
facing a man pointing a pistol.
There were people who wanted to
negotiate to save their faces, he con-
tinued. but the Sim Fein would not
negotiate to save faces, but to save,
ii possible. bloodshed, and for right
and principle.
Mr.. De Valera asserted that Ire
land had at the elections virtually
declared by plebiscite for repub-
lican government. not because the
people were republican doctrinaries,
but because Irish freedom and inde-
= pendenec could not at present be
realized in any other way.