THE FINAL SCENE

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 304, 22 December 1921, Page 5

THE FINAL SCENE

» ■ BEFORE TREATY WAS SIGNED. GAP DUFFY'S STATEMENT. THREAT BY PREMIER. WAR IF FAILED TO SIGN. " A MONSTROUS INIQUITY." (By Cable.—Press Association.—Oapyrigiht.') (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 21. Mr. Gavan Duffy, speaking in the Dail Eirann, supported the treaty. It gave power to the Irish people to control their own Government and military, and made the people's power greater than ever before. They had power to relegate the King of England to exterior darkness. The delegates in London found that when Mr. Lloyd George threatened immediate war if they failed to sign the treaty and recommend it to the Sail, they were not play-acting. If they had not signed it fresh hordes of savages would have been let loose in Ireland. They lost the republic in order to save the people of Ireland. Before they rejected the treaty the peoplo of Ireland must have a national alternative. He saw no other alternative before them. . Mr. Duffy said that Mr. Lloyd George on December 5 presented the following ultimatum: —"It must be peace or war. My messenger goes to Belfast to-night. I am here, and there are two answers, one for the treaty, the other for rupture. If for rupture there will be immediate ■wot. The only way to avert it is to bring mc the signatures of all the plenipotentiaries by 10 o'clock, coupled with an undertaking to recommend the treaty to the Dail." Mr Duffy described Mr Lloyd George's action as a monstrous iniquity.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) , • ..vyy*?-:*" TO DEATH FOR A SHADOW. KB. MXLROY>S QUESTION. BE VALERA GROWS ANGRY. LONDON, December 21. The Dail opened at least half an hour late to-day. When Mr. Michael Collins walked into the council chamber at the appointed time it was absolutely empty anj members were chatting in the corridors. . When the Speaker entered Mr. CoUms protested against the habitual unpunctuality of members, and it was promised that they should meet punctually to-morrow. To-day's session showed that Mr. de Valera's strength is due to the fact that • large element of the Dail is sublimely indifferent to the existence of public opinion, and only responds to influences within its own, special groups. Mr. Milroy described Mr. de Valera, as a man who without the aid of argument or logic swayed his audience by a wrild impassioned tornado of denunciation and talked across the prostrate forms of his victims. Mr. Milroy added that it was not statesmanship but wild fury. . Document No. 2, as Mr. de Valera's secret alternative proposals are described, loomed like a spectre throughout the greater part of the debate until Mr. Milroy disclosed its gist. "Would members prefer Mr. de Valera's oath to that contained in the treaty?" asked Mr. Milroy. Cries of "Yes" and "No" followed. Mr. Milroy: The cat is now out of the bag. This is the real issue. Mr. de Valera: It is most unfair to quote from a secret document with the object of prejudicing the public. Mr. Griffith: The people ought to know that this is our only difference. Why have not the Cabinet's instructions to the delegation been published? Mr. de Valera undertook to publish all the correspondence, upon which Mr Griffith remarked, "The sooner the better." Mr. Milroy said he was not quoting an Englishman but Mr. de Valera himself when he said that the difference between the two documents was only a shadow. He then read the oath proposed by Mr. de Valera, and dramatically pointing to Mr. de Valera and Mr. Burgess, asked whether they were going to send the youth of Ireland to their deaths for auch a shadow. Mr. de Valera sprang up white with passion and faced the moderates, who were triumphant. For a minute or two Mr. de Valera, Mr. Griffith, Countess Markievicz, and several others were on their feet protesting. Mr. Griffith demanded that the whole of the alternative proposals should be published. When partial order had been restored Mr. de Valera shouted angrily: "If that ij published all the documents must be made public." •Dr. Patrick McCartan, formerly Irish Republican envoy at Washington, said that the division in the Cabinet was a mock division. Each element was responsible for the betrayal of Ireland. The republic had been betrayed not in London by the delegation, but in Dublin by the Cabinet. Internationally the republic was dead. There is now talk of a decision on Thursday, but many members wish to adjourn until after Christmas, though responsible members point out the danger of delay. British Ministers in London do not Tegard Mr. Barton's description of the Downing Street negotiations as fair. They say that the signatures of the Irish delegates were not obtained under duress. There was no dramatic ultimatum by Mr. Lloyd George, such as sign or face war between Great Britain and Ireland. This is a travesty-«f the real happenings, though Mr. Lloyd George certainly recalled the seriousness of the results if a settlement were not achieved.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) POLITICAL PRISONERS. LONDON. December 21. Sum Fein circles report that a complete amnesty to all political prisoners, including those under sentence of death, will operate before Christmas if the treaty is ratifled.— (A. and N.Z.)