IMPASSE REACHED

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 4, 6 January 1922, Page 5

IMPASSE REACHED

IN DAIL DISCUSSION.

DEBATE ADJOURNED. PESSIMISM IN DUBLIN. "FREEMAN'S JOURNAL" HINT. T3EATY WRECKERS NOT IRISH SAFEGUARDS FOR ULSTER. <By Coble—Press Assocfa-on.—CoprrigTit.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON. January 5. The Dail Eirann has adjourned, and will meet privately to-morrow, the committee mean while seeking a way out of an impasse which has arisen, the nature of which is not yet explained. An addendum lo Mr. de Valera's document, while refusing the right of my part of Ireland to be excluded from the authority of the Irish Parliament, agrees not to coerce Ulster, and agrees on safeguards not less substantial than the treaty. There is a note of pessimism in Dublin in regard to the fate of the treaty. While it is conceded that Mr. de Valera's proposals have had very little influence, yet there has been a change in the last 24 hours that led optimists to feel that the treaty was in jeopardy. Mr. J. G. Walsh believes that it will be rejected by two votes. There is a number of wobblers whose final decision cannot be guessed. | "Freeman's Journal" says that the i Irish people will not find in Mr. de Falera's publications any justification of bis attempt to divide the nation in . the. crisis of its fate. His alleged alter- j native is no alternative. Apparently de j Valera cannot forgive the Irishmen who made the treaty for their success. For this he is ready to sacrifice the country. He has not the instinct of an Irishman | in his blood. It is the curse of Ireland j that its unity should be broken by such * man acting under the advice of an Englishman who achieved fame in the British intelligence service. The document is largely the v.ork of Erskine Childers. The Irish people must stand up' and begin their freedom by giving their fate into the hands of their own countrymen. A high authority in London points out that Mr. de Valera's amendment is not new. Its details were thoroughly thrashed, out during the negotiations arid finally rejected. The British Government would not accept them. It has just been revealed that armed men yesterday captured Mr. Kay, Dublin correspondent of the London •'Timer," in Leeso'n Street, and drove him away in a motor car. The kidnappers warned the journalists accompanying Mr. Kay not to raise the alarm, and declared that he would not be hurt, but was wanted to refute a statement. The' Dail Eirann discusses the matter to-day I .—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) DE VALERA'S A_.-_R__.Tlv_. TREATY OF ASSOCIATION. MATTERS OF COMMON CONCERN. LONDON, January 5. Mr", de Valera has issued the text of His alternative treaty, which he ytfll move on Thursday as an amendment to the motion of ratification of ihe treaty concluded by tbe Irish Conference. The document consists of 17 clauses, and includes no recognition of the King, .except for purposes of external association, rib' oath of allegiance, arid no safeguards for Ulster.

Mr. de Valera's motion reads: Inasmuch as the articles of agreement in ffie treaty between Britain and Ireland do' not reconcile our national aspirations and tbe association of Ireland with the community of nations known as the British Commonwealth, and cannot be the basis of an enduring peace between the Irish and British peoples, the Dail —irann, in the name of the sovereign Irish nation, makes to tbe Government of Britain and to the Governments of the other States of the British Common-, wealth arid to the peoples of Britain and of the several States the following proposal for a treaty of amity and association, Which the Dail is convinced could be entered into by the Irish people with sincerity arid goodwill. THE IRISH LEGISLATURE. The proposed treaty reads: In order to bring to an end the long and ruinous conflict between Britain and Ireland by n, sure and lasting peace honourable to both nations, it ia agreed:— 1. The Legislative, executive and judiciary authority in Ireland shall be de-' rived solely from the people of Ireland. 2. For purposes of common concern Ireland shall be associated with the States of the British Commonwealth, rir., the Kingdom of Great Britain, the of Canada, the CommonWealth' of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, and the Union of South AfrKi. 3. 1 When acting as an associate the rights, statutes, and privileges of Ireland shall be in no respect less t_ i tho-i'enjoyed by any of tjie component: States, of "the British Commonwealth. _ (■ Scatters of common concern shall include defence in peace and war. political treaties, and all matters now treated —s? of common concern among the State 3 of th'e'Sritish Commonwealth. .5. "Hie citizens of Ireland shall not be subject'to any disabilities to which any ' ottiren of the British Commonwealth is »»X subject. .ft F« the purposes of this assoehitkni Ireland shall" recognise His Britanas head of the association. . VSo far as her resources permit Ireland; shjii provide for her own defence land, and in the air, and shall! JW'ljylforce any attempt by a foreign "?** r $ violate her soil or waters ot w 1 the'ni for a purpose hostile to > -rifairiV \ j 8. Yot five years, pending' the estnb-, SSSfW? jpf Ireland's coastal defence.' facilities for the coastal defence of Welsnd akal! be given to the British '■ including harbour and j «*_«* naya facilities in time of war, as i _•". Brftlaa Government may rcasonriblv <Pfa, j . .. ~ _.v ____

j The ninth and tenth clauses forbid : Ireland to build submarines unless by agreement with Britain. The eleventh and twelfth clauses deal with air communications and ports. TRANSITIONAL GOV-RNJCENT. 13. Ireland shall assume liability for such share of the present public debt of Britain, and payment of war pensions as may be fair and equitable, having regard to any Irish counter-claims, the amount of which shall be determined by arbitration. The fourteenth clause deals with compensation to judges, officials, and police. 15. Neither the Parliament of Ireland nor any subordinate Legislature in Ireland shall make airy laws directly or indirectly endowing any religion or prohibit or restricf the free exercise thereof. 1(1. By way of a transitional arrangement for the administration of Ireland the members elected for the constituencies of Ireland under the 1920 Act shall elect a Transitional Government to which the British Government and the Dail shall transfer their authority, powers, and machinery. 17. This instrument shall be submi' ted for ratification to tbe Parliament at Westminster, and to Irish members elected under the 1!)20 Act, and when ratifications are exchanged it shall take immediate effect. In the Dail, Mr. L. Mellowea (East ! Galway and North Mead], who is editor of the new journal, -Republic of Ireland," declared that the Free I ernment, as a barrier between Britain and the people of Ireland, would even- ! tually occupy the same relationship to the people as Dublin Castle, and the people would have to remove it. CH_tX_X6E TO DE VALERA. Mr. O'Duffy asked the deputies to weigh their actions carefully before flouting the practically unanimous voice of the country. There were forty brave ! men awaiting the hangman's rope, seven lof whom belonged to his brigade. All had sent messages- saying, "Do not mind 1 us. Do what you think best for i Ireland."' [ Just before the adjournment a deputy challenged Mr. de Valera to produce I Document No. 2. j Mr. do Valera jumped up' angrily and protested against misrepresentations. "I defy anyone to prove that I have departed by a single letter from the republic as established," he declared. Mr. Michael Collins jumped up excitedly and said: "I also protest that I have never given anything away." Mr. de Valera then intimated his intention to move an amendment on Thursday embodying Document No. 2. Meanwhile this had been handed round among the members. j Mr. Griffith pointed out that the docu-; merit handed to the members differed from Document No: 2. Mr. de Valera: You are quibbling. Mr. Griffith: Six clauses are missing. Mr. de Valera: I am responsible' for the proposal, and I am going to choose my own procedure. Mr. Griffith: It is not competent for Mr. de Valet- to choose bis procedure. He is not an autocrat. The House then adjourned. DE VAXERA'S PROCLAMATION. Mr. de Valera has issued a proclamation asking the people, of Ireland not to allow themselves to be rushed into a decision that they will live to' deplore, and not to set the seal on a settlement which cannot be a settlement. The proclamation asserts that opportunity for a genuine reconciliation was lost by the short-sighted expediency of politicians who by t_reat of war dragged the' Irish delegates beyond their limit. The circumstances will ever be remembered as the' crowning' act of infamy 1 by England's rulers. The proclamation proceeds: "You can retrieve your position at; the' eleventh hour. You are being asked to give your consent and approval to a treaty establishing British m ntHority in Ireland; not as formerly .are you asked to' work an Act of the British Parliament thrust on you. You are being asked to bind yourselves with your own hands. You are* asked to give your parole. Refuse, as in honour you* must, if you do not mean to keep it. Do riot allow yourselves to be misled by talk of quibbles and shadows. It is a shadow that would safeguard your independence, instead of subverting it. It is a shadow that would remove the authority of the British King, of the British Cabinet arid trie British Parliament unequivocally from Ireland, that would remove from Ireland a British Governor-General with his ear to the Downing Street telephone;- that would rid you of British occupation;' that would leave Irishmen and Irish women their identity as Irish citizens and riot make British subjects of them?

"'Stand fast, fellow citizens, by what you know to be right. If you quail at the consequences, what will they not ask you to surrender next to this ignoble feat?" If Mr. Arthilr Griffith demands a division on the question whether Mr. de Valera be allowed to introduce his amendment it will settle the fate of the Irish Treaty, as the voting will be on party lines, as between the ratificationists and rejection—tV, thereby bringing the matter to an immediate decision, instead of continuing the protracted debate. Amazement is' expressed at the contrast between Mr. de Valera's passionate proclamation arid Ms alternative prouosal, which preserves the closest parallel to the terms of the treaty.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) . . i SHOOTING IN BELFAST. SIX KILLED IN TWO DATS. LONDON, January 5. The shootings in Belfast on Tuesday were the worst that have been experienced for several weeks. The military carried out a prolonged fusillade. The death roll on Monday and Tuesday totalled six. Tlie authorities have proclaimed it illegal for two or more to stop in any part of the York Street area, where the eight o'clock curtew operates to-night.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) : j