DAIL EIREANN

Evening Star, Issue 17850, 22 December 1921, Page 2

DAIL EIREANN

TUESDAY'S SESSION. BITTER FEELING APPARENT. Press Association—By Telegraph —Copyright. LONDON, December 20. During the debate in the public session Mr Milroy stated that if Bail Eireann rejected the treaty without consulting tho people it would be autocratic. He supported a democratic decision by the people. The issue was not a treaty against tho Republic, but against Mr lie Valera’s alternative. Would members prefer Mr Do Valera’s oath, as cabled, to the treaty? ! Cries of “Yes!” “No!” I Mr Milroy : The cat is now out of tho bag. This is tho real issue.” I Mr Do Valera: “It is most unfair to i quote a secret document with the object of prejudicing the public.” Mr Griffith; “The people ought to know that this is our only difference. Why had not .Cabinet’s instructions to the delegation been published?” .Mr De Valera undertook to publish all ’ correspondence. Mr Griffith responded ; " Tho sooner the better.” Mr Macarlan, formerly Republican Ambassador to 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 tho delegation, but in Dublin by the Cabinet. Internationally the Republic was dead.

Tho Dail Eireann adjourned until to' morrow.—A. and N.Z. Cab'e. PASSIONATE SCENES.

Dail Eireann’ opened at least half an hour late. When Mr Collins walked into the Council Chamber at the appointed time it was absolutely empty. The memj her were chatting- in the corridors, and 'when the Speaker entered Mr Collins protested at the habitual unpunctuality of .members, and was promised (hat Dail | Eireann would meet punctually on Wednesday. Tuesday’s meeting showed that Mr Do Valera’s strength was due to the fact that the large element of the Dail Eireann is sublimely indifferent to tho existence of public opinion, and only respond to the influences within their own special group. Mr Milroy described Mr De Valera, a.s a man who was without aid, argument, or logic; who 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 No. 2, as Mr Do Valera’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 Do Valera himself, when ho said tho difference between the two documents was only a shadow. He then read Mr Do Valera’s oath, dramatically pointing to Mr De Valera. Air Milroy asked whether they wero going to send the youth of Ireland to death for such a shadow.

Mr De Valera sprang ujj, white with passion, and faced the Moderates, who wore triumphant for a minute or two. Mr De Valera, Mr Griffith, the Countess Markicvicz, and several others wore on their feet protesting. Mr Griffith demanded that the whole treaty should be published. When a semblance of order had been restored Mr De Valera shouted angrily: “If that is published all the documents must bo made public.” There is now talk of a decision by Thursday, but many members wish to adjourn until after Christmas, though responsible members point out the danger of delay. MR BARTON’S MISCONCEPTION. Tho British Ministers in London do not regard Mr Barton’s description cf tho Downing Street proposals as fair. They say that tho Irish signatures were not obtained under duress. There was no dramatic ultimatum by Mr Lloyd George such as a throat of war between Britain and Ireland. This was a travesty of the real happenings, "though Mr Lloyd Geoi-gc certainly recalled the seriousness of the results if a settlement were not achieved. — A. and N.Z. Cable.

BELFAST TROUBLES,

GUNMEN STILL BUSY. LONDON, December 20. Sniping and shooting aro nf daily occurrence! in parts of Belfast. Last night the military surrounded a large area infested with gunmen, and carried out a hou&e-to-house search. They captured quantities of arms and ammuniton and effected thirty arrests. They made a bayonet charge on gunmen in Gupar street, Lalla road, Bel-fast.-—A. and N.Z. Cable. POLITICAL PRISONERS. LONDON, December 20. Sinn Fein circles report that a complete amnesty has been granted to all political prisoners, including those sentenced to death, to operate before Christmas if the treaty is ratified.—A. and N.Z. Cable. DERRY GAOL. arbaignedl'or MURDER. LONDON, December 20. On tho application of the defence, tho Chief Justice of Belfast adjourned till January 11 tho trial of fifteen prisoners charged with tho murder of two constables in Londonderry Gaol. _ Temporary Warder Leonard alone recognised the court, the others statiijg that thev would only recognise a court controlled by the Irish Free State.—A. and N.Z. Cable. MR DUFFY’S EXPLANATION. LONDON, December 21. (Received December 22, at 9.10 a.m.) In Da : l E'rcann Mr Gavan Duffy supported tho treaty. He said it gave power to tho Irish to control their own > Government and the military, and 1 it increa cd the people's power to an extent greater than ever before. They had tho power to relegate the King of England to exterior darkness. The delegates at London found, when Mr Lloyd George threatened immed ate war if they faded to sign the treaty and to recommend it to Dai: Eireann, that “it was not play-acting.” If they had not signed it fresh hordes of savages would have been lot loose in Ireland. They had lost the republic in order to save the people of Ireland. Before they rejected the treaty the people of Ireland must have a national alternative. Ho saw no other alternative before them.— A. and N.Z. Cable.