Mr. De Valera's letter in which he accepted the conference
and then refused the one condition on which the conference was offered was published in London on Thursday evening, Septem- ber 15th. He began by saying, " We have no hesitation in declaring our willingness to enter a conference to ascertain how the association of Ireland with the community of nations known as the British Empire can best be reconciled with Irish national aspirations." If he had ended his letter there, all would have been well. Unfortunately, he went on to say that " in this final note "—alas !- it turned out to be by no means final- " we deem it our duty to reaffirm that our position is," &c. He then explained that his nation has formally declared its independence, and recognizes itself as a sovereign State." It was therefOre " only as the representatives of that sovereign State " that he and his colleagues had any power to act.
