text: De Valera and many other members of the republican movement objected to Ireland 's status as a dominion of the British Empire and to the symbolism of having to give a statement of faithfulness to the British king to this effect .
simplified: De Valera and many other members of the republican movement did not want Ireland to be a dominion of the British Empire . They did not like the symbolism of having to give a statement of faithfulness to the British king .