Following up this line of argument, Mr. De Valera declared
that on the same principle Holland and Denmark could be made subservient to Germany, Belgium to Germany or to France, Portugal to Spain. He then proceeded logically to the conclu- sion of his argument, which was that if Great Britain made the issue with Ireland one of peace or war, the majority of Irishmen would, even so, never consent to the surrender of their birth- right. " The responsibility for the continuance of the conflict rests upon you." Thus far the letter seemed to be one of unconditional refusal, but in a final paragraph Mr. De Valera added that Dail Eireann would be willing to appoint representatives vested with plenary powers to negotiate further if the British Government would accept " the broad guiding principle of Government by the consent of the governed."
