20 AUGUST 1921, Page 2

demand. " Irish independence could not be realized at the

present time in any other way so suitably as through a Re- public." " The Irish Republic as such was sanctioned by the will of the people." Their first duty was to make " the de jure Republic a de facto Republic." He compared British rule in Ireland to the German occupation of Belgium, and he repudiated British authority. " It is," he said, " impossible practically for Ireland to negotiate with the British Government." " We negotiate to save bloodshed if we can, but we can only negotiate on right and on principle." He went on to argue that the Government's proposals were " not just," and that Great Britain, rather than Ireland, ought to be giving guarantees of her neighbour's safety.