THE IRISH TREATY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 306, 24 December 1921, Page 5

THE IRISH TREATY.

REFERENCE TO THE PEOPLE. REAL PURPOSE OF DELAY. SQUEEZING BETTER TERMS. (By Cable. -Trrss Association.— Copyright.l LONDON, December 23. There were still 40 speakers on the list when Mr. Michael Collins moved, and the Countess Markicvicz seconded, the adjournment of the Dail Kirann to January 3. The motion was carried by 77 votes to 44. The voting is no indication of the strength of the parties. Mr. Collins' supporters generally voted against the adjournment, while, many irreconcilables followed the lead of the Countess Markievicz. After the vote had been taken a dispute arose as to whether a member representing two constituencies should have two votes. This ended when Jlr. Collins, who was elected by two constituencies, impulsively cried: "I refuse to take advantage of my position. ,. The decision to adjourn has been received with considerable dissatisfaction by the general public, but it is regarded as really a reference of the matter to the people, though in a somewhat irregular and unsatisfactory manner. The Dublin correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle" stales that the adjournment will have this advantage, that tho deputies on returning to their homes will be bombardeu with appeals not to vote against the treaty. At present the parties in the Dail are of almost equal strength. Certainly on a division the majority either for or against would not enter double figures. Those who favour rejection of the treaty, including Mr. de Valera, do not want war, but think that better terms can be squeezed from JTr. Lloyd George. Before the motion for the adjournment was carried Mr. J. J. O'Kelly, Minister of Education, strongly opposed the ratification of the treaty. He said he could not be false to the oath lie had taken to the republic. Mr. R. Mulcahy, Chief of Staff of the Republican Army, supporting ratification of the treaty, said that the hour of their defeat was not the time to quarrel about how it should have been avoided. From defeat emerged powers which, after the Dail had ceased to exist, would enable the people to follow their national aspirations untrammelled and unfettered. Mr. Moylan, in the course of an angry speech, said: ""If Mr. Lloyd George wants a war of extermination let him declare it. I may not see the end. but. by Clod, no Loyalist in my brigade will see it either. Instead of a republic. Ireland had been offered an oath of allegiance, a Governor-General, a new pale, an army entrenched on her flank, and a treaty to consolidate British interest?." Professor Join MacNeill, who left the chair to address the-assembly, said that the majority of the speeches against ratification should have been made before the negotiations commenced, and not now. Each nation in the British Commonwealth had the right to complete national socereignty in its own domains. He suggested an oath commenc ing, "7 swear to be eternally associated with the British community of nations. :: (A. and N.Z. Cable.) DUBLIN BANK HOLD-UP. GANG ESCAPES WITH £1600. ! LONDON', December 23. Nine armed men separately entered the Hiberninn Bank in Ciimden Street Dublin, and at a preconcerted signal hold up the staff at revolver rcoint. Tliej then locked the employees in a room . and escaped with £1000. The raid was completed in ten minutes, and attracted no attention, though the street was , crowded. Several robberies under arms are re ported from Belfast.— (A. and X.Z.) CHIEF OF THE I.G.S. SIR HENRY WILSON RETIRES LORD CAVAN TO SUCCEED. ) LONDOX, December 23. Lieutciiant-Cioncrnl the Karl of Cavaj succeeds Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilsoi as Chief of the Impsrial General Staf cm February. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)