A LIVELY DEBATE

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 150, 22 December 1921, Page 7

A LIVELY DEBATE

DE VALERA ROUSED TO ANGER.

LONDON, 21st December. The Da.il Bireann opened at least half an hour late. When. Air. Collins walked into the Council Chamber at the appointed time it was absolutely empty, the members were chattering in the corridors. When the Speaker entered, Mr. Collins protested at the habitual unpunctuality, of members, and was prom : ised that the Dail Eireann would meet punctually on Wednesday. Tuesday's meeting showed that Mr. de Valera's strength is due to the fact that a large element it the Dail Eireann is sublimely, indifferent to the existence of public opinion,, and only responds to the influences within its own special groups. 'Mr. Mihoy described Mr. do Valera as a man who without the aid of argument or logic swayed his audiences by a wild, impassioned tornado of denunciation, and talked across, the prostrate forms of his victims. It was not statesmanship, but wild fury. ■ ■ ■-,-■ "Document number two," as Mr, de Vatora-'s secret treaty was described, loomed like a spectre, during the greater part of the debate, until Mr. Milroy disclosed its gist. Mr. Milroy said he was not quoting an Englishman, but Mr. de Valera himself, when he .said the difference between the two documents' was only a shadow. He then read Mr. de Valera's oath, dramatically pointing to de Valera and Burgess. Mr. Milroy asked whether they were going to send the youth of Ireland to death for such a shadow. Mr. de Valera sprang up, white ■with passion, and faced tho moderates, who were triumphant for a minute or two. Mr. de Valera, Mi. Griffith, tho Countess Markievicz, and several others wete on their feet protesting. Mr. Griffith demanded that the whole Treaty should lie published. When something like order had been restored, Mr. de Valera shouted angrily: "If that is published, all the documents must be made piiblic." Mr. Milroy stated that, if the Bail Eireann rejected the Treaty without consulting the people it would be autocratic. He supported a democratic decision by the people. ,The issue was not the Treaty against a republic, but against Mr. de Valera's alternative. Would members prefer Mr. de Valera's oath to that of the Treaty. (Cries of "Yes!"----'"No!") Mr. Milroy: "The cat is'now out of the bag. This is the real issue." Mi. de Valera: "It is most unfair to quote a secret document with the object of .prejudicing the public." Mr. Griffith : "The' people ought to know 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. y . Mr. Griffith responded : "The sooner the better." Mr. Macartan,. formerly Republican Ambassador to Washington, said the division in the Cabinet was a mock division. Each element .was responsible for the betrayal of Ireland. The ItepubW had been betrayed, not in London-by the delegation, ,but in Dublin by tne Cabinet. Internationally the Bepublic was dead. ■The Dail: Eireann adjourned until tomorrow. There :6 now talk of a decision by Thursday, but many members wish, to adjourn until after Christmas, though responsible members point out the dangers of delay.