OPENING OF THE DAIL EIREANN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 278, 18 August 1921, Page 5

OPENING OF THE DAIL EIREANN

MEMBERS PLEDGED TO FREE IRISH STATE

DE VALERA DECLARES BRITISH PROPOSALS UNJUST STAND FOR RECOGNITION OF REPUBLIC By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright i London, August 16. In spite of a downpour of rain, there was an enormous crowd outside the Mansion House at ths opening of the Dail Eireann. Traffic was suspended, and large contingents of the Irish Republican army held the streets for a radius of a hundred yards. The Dail Eireann assembled in the Round Room of the Mansion House where Parnell made some of his greatest orations for Irish freedom, and Parnell's portrait hung above the Speaker’s chair. There were nearly two thousand people present in the galleries, including prominent lawyers, clergy, medical and business men. When the Clerk called the names of Sir James Craig and other members of the Ulster Parliament, and of Mr. John Devlin, to which, of course, there was no response, there was derisive laughter on the part of the audience, suppressed by the Speaker. Mr. Michael Collins, the first to sign the roll, had an ovation.

As the members of the Dail Eireann entered the Chamber, an oath, pledging their allegiance to the Free Irish State, was administered. Five ladies took the oath, and one Englishman, LieutenantCommander Erskine Childers; Mr. John M'Neill was elected Speaker. Mr. de Walera, in a long speech, reiterated Ireland’s claim for separation from Britain. Ho said the only Government the people recognised was the Dail Eireann Ministry. He would report on the negotiations with the Governments and proposed that the reply should bo discussed in a private session. He understood it was the intention of the British Government to make that reply an issue between peace and war, hence the first discussion should be he <1 privately, and when the reply was ready for dispatch there would be another public session. Ho did not. say the People should be given a plebiscite for a form of republican government,, so much as for Irish freedom and independence; hence the Irish Bepnblie as such wa» sanctioned by the will of the poople >, and their representatives had solemnly declared the nation’s independence, «ind would give their lives if necessary to make the people’s wi 1 effective 0 ? on the basis of recognition df the Repul> lic can we deal with any foreign Power We stand by that principle, and we mean to die for it if British proposals were not just, and, be cause of that, he had sent his reply. * At the conclusion of Mr. de Va eras speech, the Parliament adjourned till tomorrow. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SMALL NATIONS’ RIGHTS . (Rec. August 17, 9.40 p.m.) London, August 16. Mr. de Valera, in the course of his speech at the opening of the Dail Eireann, said that if Britain bad recognised the principles which. Mr. Lloyd George had laid down during the war relating to email nations’ rights, there would have been no need for the negotiations. It was practically impossible for Irishmen to negotiate with the British Government. “There cannot be negotiation with a man or Government when the position is that an unarmed man Is facing a man with a pistol at his head. When there is no principle to fall back upon for the regulation and adjustment of differences there is nothing left but force, and in the end, if the British Government does not state definitely some principle on which it stands, Irishmen will find that at every step they are confronted by force. Negotiation for Britain only means an opportunity for saving faces. We will not negotiate to save faces, but to save bloodshed, if possible. We can only negotiate on right, on principle, and on a basis of justice. It is not just that a small nation beside a big one should have to give guarantees for the big one’s safety instead of the big one guaranteeing the little one’s safety. Because a big nation alongside a little nation thinks it is necessary for its own advantage, safety, and security to annex the little one, that does not make such annexation principle just. If it did there would soon bo no email nations in Europe- There is no justice or right in that."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MANY PEOPLE AGHAST At THE SPEECH DE VALERA’S POSITION WEAKENED (Rec. August 17, 11.30 p.m.) London, August 17. Tha "Daily News" Dublin correspondent states that it is believed that a large proportion of the more responsible people present were aghast at Air. de Valera’s speech, for though many have spoken their mind, they do not want It spoken for them thus. The speech undoubtedly has weakened Mr. du Valera’s position in the Dail Eireann. It will not be surprising if ten or fourteen days pass before a reply is dispatched to London. A hurried reply would bo a bad reply. The Dail Eireann’s execu- ( tivo is a body of war-weary men, whoso nerves are strained almost to breaking point. There is every need to give free play to the softening inlluences of discussion. Of 130 Sinn Fein members of the House of' Commons, 112 have been imprisoned onoe, 78 twice, 41 three times, 18 four times, eight five times, and 15 have been sentenced to death. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE DAIL EIREANN OATH (Roc. August 17, 9.40 p.m.) London, August 16. The Dail Eireann oath is as follows:— "I solemnly swear (or affirm) that 1 do not and shall not yield a voluntary support to any pretended. Government, nuI horitv or power within Ireland inimical thereto. Further, that to the best of my knowledge and ability I will support and defend the Irish Republic and the Irish Republic's Government, which is the Dail Eireann, against all enemies, foreign ot domestic. That I , j° ar |[ ue al * legiance thereto, I take this obligation freely, without any mental J'eservation or purpose of evasion.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

NOT SINN FEIN’S DEFINITE ANSWER

antlbritish influences at WORK. (Rec. August 17, 9.10 p.m.) London, August 16.

The "Daily Express’s” lobbyist says Mr. Lloyd George is expected to make a brief statement on Ireland in tho House of Commons on Wednesday. The disposition to-night is not to accept Mr. de Valera’s speech as representing Sinn Fein’s definite answer. It is no secret, however, that powerful antl-British influences have boon working in Ireland

the last few days endeavouring to destroy the peace atmosphere.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Ass ti. BELFAST BELIEVES RUPTURE INEVITABLE BUT DOOR. NOT BARRED AGAINST ULTIMATE SETTLEMENT. (Roc. August 17, 8.20 p.m.) London, August 16. The "Daily Telegraph's" Belfast correspondent reports that tho Northern Cabinet met. Sir James Craig was not present. No new proposal was submitted. There is a growing feeling in Belfast that a rupture is inevitable sooner or later. Nevertheless it is thought that the door hag not been definitely barred against an ultimate settlement. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. GENERAL SMUTsYIETTER ATTACKED (Rec. August 17, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 16. The "Irish Bulletin" to-day attacks General Siuuts’s letter. The paper says: "Everyone knows the Dominions owe their position of absolute freedom to their distance from the Imperial centre. Ireland’s proximity to England .makes the Dominions status theory illusive. It is not to bo found in the. British proposals. It is mischievous to pretend otherwise." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SOLDIERS ON LEAVE RECALLED London, August 16. All soldiers on leave from Ireland have been ordered to return to their regiments.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Reo. August Yt, 8.20 p.m.) London, August 16. Ulster troops’ leave has been cancelled. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assn. OUTBREAK OF SHOOTING BAND RETURNING FROM A FETE FIRED ON. (Reo. August 18, 1.10 a.m.) London, August 16, A sensational outbreak of shooting oocurreH at Coalisland village, in County Tyrone. A band returning from a fete played national airs, and was fired on by men concealed in a house. One was killed and one wounded.—United Service.