DE VALERA RESIGNS

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1922, Page 7

DE VALERA RESIGNS

AND THEN WITHDRAWS

STRAIGHT-OUT VOTE. ON RATIFICATION ISSUE , TO BE TAKEN TO-DAY. (By Cable—Press Association. —Corrright.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON", January H. Mr. Eamonn dp Valera announced today h' s resignation in the following terms: — "I am re.-ignillg tlie Presidency nf the Irish Republic. With it the MillJstrv, and the Dail will h;ivp to constitutionally elect a chief executive officer. 1 intend to offer myself for re-election on the principles of 11110, and shall seek a Cabinet thinking with mo. 1 shall demand thai all resources he handed ever to defend the Republic." Later Mr. de "Valera announced his withdrawal of the resignation on an tjfreement that a straight-out vote be taken on the acceptance or rejection of the treaty.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) EXCITEMENT IN THE DAIL. IUEJECTOHS GAINING GROUND. LOXDON, January (1. Excitement was intense when the Dail assembled this morning. The Speaker accepted a motion for an immediate adjournment until the afternoon, which both parties agreed upon, in order to curtail the debate. During the interval the party leaders conferred, seeking an escape from the impasse. Those for ratification of the treaty admitted that the Tejectionists had gained ground since Tuesday, and confirmed Mr J. J. Walsh's pessimistic forecast of the defeat of ratification. The Dail reassembled in the afternoon, but sat only for an hour before it adjourned again by a party agreement. A committee was appointed to try and compose the differences. It will report, to a private meeting to-morrow.

The Negotiating Committee consists of four members favouring ratification and five in opposition to it.

Mr. O'Dtlffy, one of the negotiators, informed the Dail that a substantial agreement had already been reached on a. number of vital points. He added that though it would be possible to retain Mr. de Valera's services, the scheme hael not yet been agreed to by the leaders themselves. Mr. Mulcahy then moved that the Bail should meet in private. During the meeting to-day' there were lively protests against an article in "Freeman's Journal." A motion to exclude its reporters from the Dail was withdrawn after a discussion. I Mr. Drohan has resigned, on the ground that his constituents in East Tipperary demand ratification, and that he cannot vote for the treaty. He expected four or five other deputies would take the same course.—(A. and N.Z.) THE ARRESTED JOURNALIST. ''■<■ * A PROMPT RELEASE. LONDON, January 6. It has been announced that the armed nen who captured Mr. Kay, Dubin correspondent of the London "Times," ta Lceson. Street, and drove him away in a motor car, released their captive to-day. The capture was first announced in the Dail to-day by Mr. D. Fitzgerald, who described it as a disgraceful occurrence. It created a sensation in Dublin. Mr. Kay, accompanied by other journalists, according to their daily habit, were lunching at a grocer's shop during the mid-day adjournment of the Dail on Wednesday. Ail of the party were invited to an inner private room, when three men entered, drew revolvers, and demanded Mr. Kay, whom they warned if he did not follow them to a waiting motor car he would be riddled with bullets. They threatened his companions that if they shouted they would be immediately shot. They assured them Mr. Kay would not be harmed, but must go to Cork in reference to statements he had written about the state of feeling there. Mr. Michael Collins, who was enraged by the occurrence, saw a Press deputation to-day, expressed great regret at the unauthorised action by some Cork men. promised an inquiry, and ordered Mr, Kay's immediate release. Bhooting rejeurred in Belfast on Thursday night. The military forces dis- [ persed riotous erowils.—(A. and N.Z.)