The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-16
ERIN Numbered
BY NEW TREATY,
SAYS De VALERA
Continued from First PaseJ


whether expedient or not, Par
nelrs, attitude towards home rule acts
was fundamentally and logically
sound. The attitude of those who
the present treaty from the
same standpoint Is unsound.
"I can accept and enjoy such free
dom as my jailer gives me and, with
out dishonor, use 1t to escape com
pletely from his hands. provided /
have to give no undertaking to re-
main as his prisoner. But II give
a parole it is different. l then bind
myself not to escape. / make my.
self his prisoner by my own act. II
Ireland wants to be free she should
not give her parole to remain a pris-
oner.
..The Nationalists, who support the
present treaty, are Of two classes:
First. those Of whom President Grit
fifth may be regarded as typical. who
are prepared to accept the freedom
promised by the treaty as full salts
faction for our national claim; sec.
ond, those like Mike Collins, who
would have us accept the treaty sim
ply as a further installment from
Britain.
Declares Both Wrong.
But both are wrong. for on the
one hand 1t is incomplete satisfaction:
on the other, in the guise Of treaty
or contract. 1t cannot be accepted In
the light of an installment.
ITO the world 1t will be made to
appear that the Irish people, who
three years ago declared In the most
solemn manner their independence
and who now voluntarily abandon
their independence and republican
form of government, accept instead
inclusion in the British empire with
all itE implications with the people
CT Britain to accept the British mon
arch and Imperial Parliament as
the fount of all authority. The
summing up Of the plain people 10
that the treaty will leave them free
from English interference as are the
peoples OF Canada. Australia, and
Africa. But Ireland Is not 5000 or
6 900 or 5000 miles away from Eng
land. Ireland is not a huge CONT
tinent like Canada, Africa, and Aus
tralia that could support and develop
a population larger than the United
States and which England .conse-
ouently il unlikely to challenge.
Nor are the historical relations be-
tween Britain and these countries
the same as the historical relations
of Ireland with Britain.
Ayers Erin Still Has King.
He is an incredulous person in.
deed who believes that authority,
which is but a symbolic shadow Of
that OF Canada. Australia. or Africa.
is intended to remain a similar
shadow for Ireland. But even II II
were a reality 1t would be a shadow
and no more dangerous. Therefore
holding the views that do as to
lrelands rights would be opposed
to such an acceptance.
ITO recognize the British king as
a sort Of president Of an association
or league of nations is one thing, to
accept him as king of Ireland end
the sovereign source of all authority
him and promise fidelity to him 10
another"
The question was asked: But how
about your alternative oath embodied
in your proposal known as document
No. 81"
De Valera waved a copy Of docu.
ment No. 2 in my face. He walked
up and down, and then continued:
Look at document No. 2. You
find nc oath PROPS at the cabinet
where ] criticized the Brit
ish proposals. / said the oath they
was impossible. I saw we
could not accept It 1t was held by
some Of the delegates that the Brit
some kind. l suggested that IL the
oath were the only difference, it
would not be difficult to frame one
we could take"
Cities Counter Proposals.
The counter proposals from our
side were for an agreement based
upon:
Il. A constitution in which the
source Of all authority would be the
Irish people and there would be no
British authority, crown or otherwise,
direct or indirect.
80. An external association Of this
independent Ireland with the major
states Of the British government for
certain affairs Of common concern
with the same status in the accocia-
ton as Great Britain herself and the
other states; that is, on a basis OF
equality of rights.
"3. Recognition of the British king
as head or president SO to speak, Of
the association.
oath to obey this constitution which
was very different from the consti-
tuition in the treaty. would have been
consistent and not impossible. My
attitude was and is that any con-
tract am willing to make I am
willing to take an oath to keep.
His Ideal Is Independence.
What those who favor the treaty
are attempting to hide is that docu-
ment No. was put forward by me
at the first secret session Of the Dali,
not as my ideal, but as roughly indi-
eating the objective / had in view in
entering the negotiations and as a
forlorn hope at the moment to save
the situation created by the fait
accompli on the signed treaty which
l felt would divide the Dali and the
country.
my ideal now is as II always has
been-that of an Independent Irish
republic which is also the ideal Of
the Irish people.
Great Crowds Cheer
Az Slim Fpiners Take