PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 39, 15 August 1921, Page 8

PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY

NO SECESSION FROM ALLEGIANCE

DESTINIES OF ISLANDS ARE INDIS-

SOLUBLY LINKED.

Mr. Lloyd George's reply expresses a desire to make the position absolutely, clear. "In our opinion, nothing can be gained by prolonging discussion on the national status which you are willing to accept compared with that of the selfgoverning Dominions. I must direct your attention to one point you emphasise, which no British Government can compromise, namely, the claim that 'we should acknowledge the right of Ireland to secede from allegiance to the King^ No such right can. ever be acknowledged by us.' The geographical propinquity of Ireland is a fundamental fact, and the history oFthe two.islands for many centuries, however they may be 1 read, is sufficient proof that their destinies are indissolubly linked.

"Great numbers in all 'tjie" Irish provinces are '• profoundly' attached to the Throne. These facts permit: but one answer and oho only to the. claim that Britain should negotiate, with. Ireland as a separate and foreign Power. .When you, the chosen representative of Irish national ideals, came to speak, I made one condition and only one, wjrieh our proposals, plainly stated, to the effect that Ireland should recognise the force of geographical and historical facts. Those' facts govern the problem of British and Irish relations. I pass therefore the conditions imposed by these facts. There is no need to restate- them here, except to say that the British Government cannot consent to the reference .of any such question which concerns Britain and Ireland alone ,to the arbitration of a foreign Power.

CANNOT GO BEYOND THE OFFER.

. "I am profoundly glad to have your agreement that Northern Ireland cannot he coerced. This is a point of great importance, because'the resolve of our people to resist to'their full power any. attempt at Recession by one pait of Ireland carries of necessity an equal resolve to resist any effort to coerce another parly of Ireland to abandon allegiance to the. Crown. I will gladly give, an assurance •to concur with any settlement Southern and Northern Ireland may make for Irish unity within the six conditions laid " down. The conditions contain no derogation of Irelandi's status as a Dominion, no desire., for British ascendancy, no impairment of Ireland's national ideals. The \ offer to'th e Irish people is an opportunity such as never dawned before, and is inado in an earnest desire for peace. Beyond them we cannot go. , ■ < .