THE IRISH TREATY

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 75, 21 December 1921, Page 5

THE IRISH TREATY

DISCUSSION IN THE DAIL EIREANN DE VALERA URGES REJECTION DELEGATES’ REASONS FOR SIGNING The Treaty has been keenly debated by the Dail Eireann in public session. It was strongly denounced by Mr. de Valera, who urged its rejection, while Messrs. Griffith and Collins advocated its ratification. Mr. Barton made a sensational revelation regarding the way in which the realisation was forced upon him that he must sign the Treaty. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. December 20, 7.30 p.m.) London, December 19. The public session of the Dail Eireann has been resumed. Mr. de Valera’s alternative proposals, for which he failed to secure tho unanimous approval of the secret session, were laid before the Assembly. Mr. Collins demanded that all the documents should be published. Even if he was in a minority of one, he would refuse to regard a document as confidential, and would tell the Irish people what it contained.

Mr. de Valera said he would propound his own policy, which differed from the alternative discussed in the secret session.

The Speaker ruled the discussion out of order.

Mr. Griffith Will Stand by the Treaty. Mr. Griffith, who had moved the ratification of the treaty, explaining the circumstances in which ho went to the conference, said his task was as hard a one as could have besn placed on the shoulders of men. Not the life of one young Irishman should be lost for the alternative policy. This was the first treaty signed by the Irish Government with" the English Government for centuries. It was the first treaty that admitted the equality of Ireland, and for that cause he would stand by it. Every man with a scran of honour who signed tho document was going to stand by it. Mr. Griffith said that every effort had been made 'outside to represent that certain men had stood uncompromisingly for Ireland’s full demands, while others, like Mr. Collins, had compromised Troland’s right. The difference between them was a ouibble about the recognition of the Kino. It was for this they wer» n cked to throw awav the treaty and go hack to war. The alternative nronosnl meant that Ireland would he half in and half out of the British Empire. whereas under the treaty they could go in ‘with their heads un Tf they rejected the treaty, and Ireland went to war again, she would be fighting against th” symnhthy of the world. Commandant McKeon, "the blacksmith of Ballinalen,” seconded the motion. Mr. de Valera’s Arguments Against Approval. Mr. de Valera, in asking the Dail Eireann not to approve the treaty, asked whether the Irish people thought they were liars when they ratified, by their votes, the creation of an. Irish Republic. This treaty did not reconcile Ireland’s national aspirations with the British Commonwealth. He made the request not because he was a man of war, Jnit because he was a man of peace. The treaty would not end the centuries of conflict. Mr. Lloyd George with his treaty was going to do with Ireland what Pitt did by the Act of Union. Tho treaty was signed under duress and the threat of a renewal of the war. Tf tho treaty was ratified there would be a hick of flags in Dublin streets if ihe King came to open Parliament, but if a proper peace had been made the King would have been welcomed. Answering loud cries of dissent, Mr. de Valera declared that if they could not bring the King here as the head of a friendly nation, how in heaven’s name could the King com" as tho head of the Trish Free State? The treaty would lend to a period of international strife.. The Trish neonle could change their minds if they desired. Until then thev should do what he had said.- Would the new army of Ireland be the King’s? fCries of "No!”) Mr. de Valera said the Irish nation would not respect tho treaty, and the nation would never have peace. This treaty wns the most ignoble that could he signed. It recognised the British Government’s aulhority in Ireland, and was absolutely inconsistent with their nosition. They would he acting in the best intores’-s of Ireland in rejecting it, ns it would not lead to lasting peace. Thev knew perfectly well that, whoever set up a provisional Government in Troland. it would ho looked -noon o« a usurnation equally with Dublin Ca c He in the past. We agreed that the nlomnofnntiar’ec wore guided by love of Ireland in signing, hut ho would rather Irishmen remained slaves to the end of limo than consent to the document. Mr. de Valera mid th* Minister! would l>o t'm King’s Ministers. (Cries of “No/' "Timo will tell.”) "I hone if will not have the chance, and that you will throw out the fr°nfv. The erocuf'vo authority in Ireland -mil bo flw nrifish Alonarch. with British authority over Iho army, which will have to swear nllogianco to the Fn n, l' q h monarch." Tn c«’iclusion, Mr. de Valera quoted Parnell's dictum against ntfomnfing to sot a Kuimlarv tn tl>" nation’s onward mnrcli, which, he said, wns what the treaty entailed. yr- qlno'r and Count pinnl-cft supported Mio roicefion of fha freatv. Irish Given Freedom Under Treaty. Mr. Collins said ho would stand up for the signature he had given, and would repeat it in the Dail Eireann nr anywhere else. (Cheers.) It had been said that the plenipotentiaries went down before the first British bblfl ‘‘Britain has put; up a pretty good 'bluff the last two years. I never broke down before it.” (Cheers.) Acceptance of the invitation to confer was no acceptance of association within ‘he Empire. If they! had held out for a republic there would have been no conference. The treaty gave (hem all the freedom any nation need desire in which to develop They had substituted common citizenship with tlie Dominions for subjection of Ireland. Wore they to continue an impossible fight and never start on their own feet? The delegation was confident there would bo good will towards Ulster, and that eventually Ulster would come under the Irish Parliament. It was unfair to quote tho dead as against the signatories. Ho was convinced many of them would have realised th?y had acted in Ireland's host interests. Mr. Erskine Childers described clause fins most humiliating in face of the naval provisions, and the useless talk of Ireland’s equality and ability to make treaties. She would he merely an English protectorate. Tho King’s representative would bo the centre of authority. The Ministers and tho Provisional Government would bo the Kings. Mr. Barton Causes a Sensation.

■V sensation was caused when Mr. Barton said that. Mt. Griffith repeatedly tried to havo the issno at the confer-

once referred to the Dail Eireann, but that Mr. Lloyd George insisted that they were plenipotentiaries and must sign or reject the treaty. He and Mr. Cavan Duffy wanted to .refuse, which would have involved war. That would have thrown tho responsibility on Mr. Griffith and Mr. Collins, and, therefore, ho signed. While Mr. O’Higgins was speaking Mr. do Valera protested against the public discussion of Cabinet secrets. Mr. O’Higgins said: In this crisis the nation is entitled to know eevrything. (Cheers.) Mr. de Valera: I have already asked that my own proposals bo regarded as confidential until I bring them forward. Mr. Griffith: Ought a matter we discussed privately during ' the last three days be withheld from the people? Mr. O’Higgins: The Dail Eireann ought not to ’bo asked to reject the treaty without an assurance that better terms are available. Neither honour nor principle demanded the flinging hack ol the people into war for the difference between the treaty and the fullness ot our rights. If the King’s representative acts in Ireland it will be on the advice of the Irish Ministers. (Cheers.) The session was adjourned till to-moi-row. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FEATURES OF THE DEBATE DE VALERA’S DICTATORSHIP CHALLENGED BARTON’S SENSATIONAL REVELATION. (Rec." December 20, 8.10 p.m.) London, December 19A feature of the day’s debate was Messrs. Collins’s and Griffith’s challenge against tho dictatorship which. Mr. de Valera was claiming. The latter, a tall, gaunt unyielding figure, resembled Savonarola turned politician. His powerful voice quickly stirred the pass Mus of the gathering. His whole speech was very different from Wednesday’s—there were no hesitations, but hard, almost inhuman, ferocity, as ho proceeded from denunciation to denunciation. The effect would have been comic if the speaker had not been so deadly in earnest. Air. Griffith did not attempt flights of oratory. Throughout he was plain, emphalic, and dogged. Mr. Griffith s l>est point was the reading of a letter from Mr. Llovd George— the date was not given—in which Mr. Lloyd George clearid up certain points in the treaty. This letter pointed out that: a Gov-ernor-General would bo appointed similar to Canada, the Irish Governmeint beingi consulted in order to ensure an acceptable selection. Regarding Ireland s liability for the public debt and a share of war pensions, the procedure contemplated was that the British Government should submit its claims, the Irish Free State then to submit any counterclaim to which it thought Ireland was entitled. Upon this case arbitrators would decide. Britain desired Ireland to rank as the co-equal of other .nations of tho commonwealth, and would support her claims to a similar place in the League of Nations. The framing of the constitution would be in the hands of the Irish Government. The letter concluded : "We propose to begin withdrawing the military directly the articles of agreement are ratified." Air. Collins was a great contrast to Messrs. Griffith and de Valera. His gestures and mercurial changes from sunny smiles to wrath recalled Air. Lloyd George twenty years ago. His confidence and sheer robustness again and again aroused ringing cheers. The sensation, of the meeting, however, was Air. Barton’s speech, ini which ho revealed, with the most dramatic effect, how the delegates faced a dreadful alternative at the fateful midnight session. “The negotiations had broken down. I broke - the oath of allegiance to the republic because I believed it the lesser evil. We trieel repeatedly to get tho responsibility of deciding peace or war referred to the Dail Eireann. Air. Lloyd George, with solemnity and the power of conviction, declared thst the signature of every delegate was necessary or war would follow immediately. He gave us ninety minutes to decide. Air. Gavin Bluffy and myself decided tho question of war or no war. I preferred war. but realised that I dare not accept that responsibility on behalf of the nation without consulting the nation.. Sn I signed, and am prepared to stand bv my signature.”— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DAIL EIREANN’S POWER > IMPORTANT QUESTION RAISED. (Rec. December - 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 20. Tho most important question raised' is as to the Dail Eireann’s power to ratify the agreement, which stipulated that the treaty must be submitted to an assembly composed of elected members of the House of Commons of South Ireland. Tho Dail Eireann does not fulfil this requirement, because it includes some Northern members of the House of Commons, and excludes Southern Unionists, who have not sworn allegiance to the republic. If the Dail Eireann approves tho resolution of ratification, a properly constituted Assembly will bo convoked. Air. do Valera Ims decided to introduce his own scheme, which further complicates the issue.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TREATY WILL GO THROUGH (Rec. December 20, 8.10 p.m.) London. December 20. A prominent Irish trade unionist, writing to a British colleague, says: “Do not worry. The treaty will go through all right'."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MANIFESTO OF GRAND ORANGE LODGE LOYALISTS TN IRISH FREE STATE. (Rec. December 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 20. Tho Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has issued a manifesto stating that if an Irish Free State is formed, Loyalists will bo compelled to defend their lives and liberties. Force would be the only argument. They accepted His Majesty s Government. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. December 20, 8.55 p.m.) London. December 20. Tho Grand Irish Orange I,edge, in a manifesto to brother Orangemen, stated: “This meeting, representative of Orangemen from all parts of Ireland, is of opinion that the so-called treaty will break up the Empire and compulsorily deprive many loyal citizens of their position in tho Empire.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITISH PARLIAMENT PROROGUED London, December 19. Mr. Austen Chamberlain has announced that, as tho Government does not expect tho Dail Eireann’s decision before Christmas Eve, it has been decided to prorogue Parliament to-day till January fll.’-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AN INFLAMMATORY ARTICLE TN IRISH COMMUNISTS’ PAPER. (Rec. December 20, 8.55 p.m.) London. December 20. The "Workers of the Republic,” the organ of tho Irish Communists, declares: "The question is not how to liberate the Irish people from the yoke of ihe British, but how to liberate the millions of toilers for tho Imperialists in India, Egypt, and Africa when these actively participated in the struggle fol freedom. When this struggle is creating such a crisis in Europe and the whole machinery of the State is threatened with being sprung into the air Ilion tho hopp ol Ireland " i'l materialise, then f.ho will deliver the death-blow, placed as she is in tho very heart, and contra of the Empire.**—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.