IRISH- TREATY

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6274, 30 December 1921, Page 5

IRISH- TREATY

SECRET MEETING OF DAIL EIREANN MEMBERS.

REPORTED RATIFICATION COMPROMISE

DUBLIN OPTIMISTIC.

PLUNKETT FAVORS PEOPLE’S

VOTE

(United Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, Dec. 28. -It is reported from Dublin that the chief members favoring ratification and the rejectionists at a secret meeting reached a compromise whereunder ratification will be carried.

Optimism in Dublin is increasing. Political circles now feel assured that ratification is almost a certainty. The adjournment served a useful purpose in bringing members of i. Dail Eireann in close contact with their constituents, an overwhelming majority of whom favor ratification, realising that the treaty gives a measure of freedom unexampled )■ the country’s history, and that the only alternative is endies-s, fruitless warfare. _ .. The latest resolutions demanding ratification come from ■ South Cork Sinn Fein executive, Longford and Kilkenny, County Cavan, and urban councils. . , A member of the last pointed < ut that the people had listened, to the Dail Eireann’s speeches and the Eireann ought.now to listen to ’ho peopleThe latest resolutions suggest that the Dail Eireann members objecting to the oatli ought to abstain from voting or consult their constituents. NEW YORK, Dec. 28. Sir Horace Plunkett has arrived. He declared his belief that the Dail Eireann should submit the Irish treaty to the popular vote, which would overwhelmingly ratify it. He think Ulster will join the South when the question is no longer an issue of British party politics.—A. and N.Z.C.A. FIRM STAND BY LLOYD GEORGE. FRUITLESS TO RE-OPEN QUESTION “ALTERATION WILL RENDER TREATY VOID.’’

LONDON, Dec. 28Mr Lloyd George telegraphed from Cannes: “.It is fruitless and impossible to re-open the discussion of the Irish treaty. Even an alteration would render it null and void.” Mr Churchill presides over a Ministerial committee going to Ireland to settle the amnesty and transfer the executive to the Irish Government. _ _ (Received Dec. 29, 5.5 p,m.) CANNES, Dec. 28. In an interview, Mr Lloyd George said the statement telegraphed to Downing Street, was issued officially in order to clear up certain doubts. The Premier -said: “No British statesman could go further than we have done. No statesman could consider any proposal involving Ireland being out of the Empire. The Government has gone to the utmost limit in the treaty. To re-open a discussion which was only closed after the most exhaustive discussion of every point, would he fruitless, and 'it is impossible- 1 ’

A committee, consisting of. British Ministers, under the presidency of Mr Churchill, is being sent to arrange an amnesty to deal with the evacuation of British forces, and make the necessary arrangements for the transfer of a full executive, responsible to the Irish Provisional Government. The committee had arranged to sit through the Christina sholidays, hut was held up pending the approval of the treaty.—A. and N.Z.C.A.