The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-01-17
VALERA EXPLAINS
PEACE REJECTION

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
sabove middle age that they slip back
quite easily over the last decade as
II 1t had not existed. regardirt this
treaty from the standpoint merely OF
a home rule act that cannot set
bounds to the onward march OF the
nation
whether expedlent or not, Par
nells attitude towards horne rule
acts was fundamentally and locally
sound. The attitude OF those who
approach the present treaty from
the same standpoint is unsound
Il can accept and enjoy such free
dom as my taller gives me, and
without dishonor use IL to escape
completely from his hands, provid-
ed | have to give no promise to re-
main as his prisoner. But II I get
a parole, IL Is different. L then
bind myself not to escape. | make
myself his prisoner by my own act.
II Ireland wants to be free she
should not give her parole to remain
a prisoner.
Everyone Else Wrong.
The nationalists who supported
the present treaty are of two classes:
First. those of whom President Grif-
fifth may be regarded as typical. who
promised by the treaty as full satis-
faction for our national claim; sec
ond, those Ike Mike Collins. who
would have us accept the treaty
simply as a further installment from
Britain.
But both are wrong, for on the
one hand 1t is incomplete satisfac-
iion, on the other, in the guise of
treaty or contract. il cannot be nc-
eepted in the light of an install
ment'
The question was asked: But
how about your alteINative oath
embodied in your proposal known
as document No. 2?"
De Valera waved a copy of docu-
ment No. in my face. he walked
up and down, then replied;
Look at document No. .. You
lind no oath proposed at the cabi-
net meeting where / criticized the
British proposals l said the oath
they proposed was impossible. ]
said we could not accept IL. II was
held by some OF the delegates that
the British were insisting upon an
oath OF some kind. l suggested that
II the oath were the only difference
II would not be difficult to frame
one we could take.
The Counter Proposals.
Inc counter proposals from our
SIDE were an agreement based on:
First, "A constitution in which the
source of all authority would
oe the Irish people and there would
DC no British authority, crown o,
otherwlse. direct or indirect.
Second, an external association
OF the independent ireland with q
major status OF the British govern
hent for certain affairs OF common
concern with the same status III the
association as Great Britain herself
anu other states; that Is, on a basis
VI equality OF rights.
Ihlrd, recognition OF the
BRUSH king as head or president
70 TO speak. to the association,
There being in the proposals
M oath to obey this constitution
which was very different from the
constitution in the treaty, would
nSIe been consistent and not impos-
aple My attitude was, and IL. that
qnS contract j am willing to make
keep. ~
what those who favor the treaty
Me attempting to hide Is that doc
enl NO. was put forwals- by me
me first secret session. of the
sl, not as my ideal, but as
houghly indicating the objective i
nav mad in view in entering the ne.
,sSo,'al'ons and as a forlorn hope al
c e moment TO save the situation
iva1eu ny the fait accompli on the
dis,su treaty which ] felt would
'Ue ~, the dali and the country.
My ideal now as II aIwavs has
oeen-that Of independent irish re-.
hg6lic-which is The ideal Of Inc
irish people" '''