The Prime Minister at the same time published a striking
letter which General Smuts, before leaving for South Africa, sent to Mr. De Valera on August 4th. General Smuts told the Sinn Fein leader that " for the present no solution based on Ulster coming into the Irish State will succeed." Sinn Fein should leave Ulster alone and trust to time to achieve Irish unity. " Ireland is travelling the same painful road as South Africa, and with wisdom and moderation in her leadership she is destined to achieve no less success." General Smuts reminded Mr. De Valera that a Republic is not the only expression of national self-determination. The Dominion status was entirely satisfactory ; what was good enough for Canada, Australia, and South Africa ought surely to be good enough for Ireland. Great Britain offered Ireland far more than she had given to the Transvaal awl Free State after the war. If Ireland accepted it, her new rights would be guaranteed by all the Dominions. General Smuts added, very truly, that " the Irish question is no longer a constitutional but mostly a human problem."
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