PEACE ON CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 101, 30 April 1923, Page 7

PEACE ON CONDITIONS

READY TO DUMP ALL ARMS JEBEL GOVERNMENT'S COLLAPSE. (tJNITBD PRE 63 ASSOCIATION.—OOMBWHI.) AUSTBAUAN . NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 28th, April. The collapse of the rebel Government, which has been -expected since the vigorous Free State campaign resulted in the capture of bo many leaders, waß revealed to-day by a proclamation .from de Valera expressing willingness to negotiate peace, and a rebel army order suspending hostilities.' It is the general hope that this means the end of the long guerrilla warfare. The de Valera manifesto is characterised by the usual wordiness, and proclaims that the "Government of the Republic" is anxious to contribute its share to the movement for peace, founded on the pi-inciples: (1) That the sovereign rights of the nation are indefeasible and inalienable. (2) That all legitimate governmental authority is derived exclusively from the peopk. (3) The ultimate Court of Appeal deciding all disputed qn&stions of national expenditure is for the people of Ireland's judgment, being a majority vote of the adult citizenry, its decision being 1 obeyed. Besistance and violence are excluded, not because the decision will necessarily be right, jnst, or permament, but because acceptance makes for peace, order, and unity, and is the democratic alter--native to peace by arbirtation.

(4) No individual or individuals subscribing to those principles of national right, order, and good citizenship can be justly excluded by any political oaths, test, or other device from a proper share in the influence of determining the national policy oi' from the Council or Parliament of the nation. The military forces are the servants of the nation, and subject to the foregoing amenable to the national Assembly when freely elected by the people.

(5) Freedom of assembly, speech, and Press to prevail. That every adult male and female be. allowed to vote at a General Election, to ba held ac soon as may be. ' '■

. (6) An undertaking by both sides that whatever Government is elected, its: opponents .will not resort to armed force, but exercise their opposition in a constitutional manner.

The proclamation hopes this advance will be met in the spirit in which it is made and supported by all loving the country and desiring a speedy and just ending to the national trouble.

The Australian' Press Association special message from Dublin states that de Valera^ Routledge, Aitken, Pilkington, Parry, and what remains of the Republican Government army are prepared to accept the following terms of peace:—

(1) Complete dumping of all arms under supervision-rde Valera will agree to their complete destruction.

';■_ (2) The'return home of all Republicans in arms.

(3) Cessation by the Free State Government of all raids and arrests.

(4) The release of all prisoners. All alleged criminal .prisoners to b* dealt with by representatives of the Free State and the Repiib/ieaiis, with a neutral chairii!;) 11 —Monsijnor Liizio is suggested. The army order to officers command-

i:-.R- and others, is signed "Frank Aitken, Chief of Staff." It Etates: "In ■rder to give effect to the decision of ■.he Government and Army Council cm'odiecl in a proclamation of this data, you will arrange for a suspension pf all ■iffensive operations in your area from noon on 30th April. You will ensure, whilst remaining, .on the defensive, that all unila take adequate measures .to protect themselves and their munitions."

Guerrilla; warfare, which has now jagt-. Ec fifteen months, was announced as a consequence of de Valera's refusal on 12th December, 1921, to ratify the agreement signed at Downing Street between the representatives of the Imperial Government and Sinn Fein.