IRISH PEACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18446, 6 January 1922, Page 5

IRISH PEACE

BAIL EIREANN DEBATE MR DE YALERA’S ALTERNATIVE TREATY NO RECOGNITION OF THE KING OATH OF ALLEGIANCE DELETED

• Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, January 4. In Dail Eireann Mr De Valera gave notice that as the treaty does not reconcile the Irish national aspirations and her association with the British Commonwealth, ho will propose a new treaty of amity and association. Mr De Valera will submit the text of his motion when he moves it. Mr M'Cabe resumed the debate. He said the rejection of the treaty would be a criminal incitement to national suicide. They should not vote against it because of revenge for wrongs done ,in the post. Ho declared that document No. 2, which Mr De Valera proposed to submit, contained all his objections to the treaty.— A. and N.Z. Cable. Mr De Valera protested against references to a document which had not been put forward. Mr M'Cabe replied that it should not be suppressed. . Mr De Valera said it would have to be introduced as an amendment, but those who favour the treaty insisted upon a direct vote on approval. He gave notice that he Would moist upon his rights to introduce document No. 2 as an amendment. Mr Gavan Duffy, commander of the Republican army, and the member for Monaghan, supported the treaty, because he said only one or two of His 5000 constituents opposed it, and he believed the judgment of his constituents to be correct. Mr’De Valera has issued- the text of his alternative treaty, which he will move as an amendment on Thursday. The document consists of 17 clauses. It includes no recognition of the Sing, except for the purpose of external association, no oath of allegiance, and no safeguards for Ulster. A. and N-Z. Cable. 1

FREE STATE GOVERNMENT.

DENOUNCED BY REPUBLICAN EDITOR. 4 , LONDON, January 4. (Received Jan. 5, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr Mollowes, editor of the newspaper, the Republic of Ireland, declared that the Free State Government was a barrier between Great Britain and the people of Ireland, and it would eventually occupy the same relationship to the people as Dublin Castle did to-day. The people would have to remove it.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

EXCITED DELEGATES.

A HEATED DEBATE. MR DE VALERA’S MOTION. TEXT OP PROPOSED TREATY. LONDON, January 6. (Received Jan. 5, at 8.55 p.m.) In the Dail Eireann Commander O’Duffy asked the deputies to weigh their actions carefully before flouting what was practically the unanimous voice of the country. There were 40 brave men awaiting the hangman’s rope, seven of whom belonged to his brigade. , All had sent the message, “Don’t mind us. Do what you think best for Ireland.” Just before the adjournment the- deputy challenged Mr da Valera to produce document No. 2. Mr de Valera jumped up angrily and protested against the misrepresentation. “I defy anyone," he said, “to prove I departed in a single letter from the republic as established.” Mr Michael Collins jumped up and excitedly said, “I also protest that I have never given anything a*ay. ” Mr de Valera then intimated his intention of moving an amendment on Thursday embodying document No. 2. In the meantime this has been banded round among, the members. Griffith .pointed out that the document handed to members differed from No. 2. Mr de Valera; “Youi’re quibbling.” Mr Griffith : “Six clauses are missing.” Mr do Vaelra : “I am responsible, for the proposal. lam going to choose my own procedure.” Mr Griffith said it was not competent for Mr de Valera to choose his procedure. He, was not an autocrat. The House adjourned. Mr de Valera’s motion reads as follows : Inasmuch as the articles of tho agreement in the treaty between Great Britain and Ireland do not reconcile our national aspirations and the association of Ireland with the community of nations known as the British Commonwealth, and cannot be the basis of an ■ enduring peace between tho Irish and the British people, the«Dail Eireann, in the name of the sovereign Irish nation, makes to the Government of. Great Britain and to the Governments of the other States- of the British Commonwealth, and to the people of Great Britain and of the several States the fol--1 lowing proposal for a of amity_ and association which the Dail Eireann is’ convinced could be entered into by tho Irish people with sincerity and goodwill. The proposed treaty reads : In order to bring an end to a long and ruinous conflict between' Great Britain (HJ9 Ireland by a sure and lasting ' peacejubonourablo to both nations, it is agreed: 1. The Legislative Executive and judiciary authority of Ireland shall be derived solely from the people of 2. For the purposes of common concern Ireland shall be associated with the States of the British Commonwealth —viz, tho Kingdom*of Great Britain, the dominion, of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the dominion of New*Zealand, and tho Union of South Africa. 3. When acting as an associate th(j rights, statutes, and privileges of Ireland shall in no respect bo less than those enjoyed by any component States of the commonwealth. 4. Matters of, common concern shall include defence in peace and war, political treaties and all matters now treated as of common concern among the States of the commonwealth. ■ 5. The citizens of Ireland shall not bo subject to any disabilities to which any citizen of the commonwealth is not subject. 6. Bor the purpose of association' Ireland shall recognise the Britannic Majesty as head of the association. ‘ 7. So, far as her resources will permit Ireland shall provide her own defence on sea, land, and air, and shall repel by force any attempt by a foreign Power to violate her soil or waters, or to use them for purposes hostile to Great Britain. 8. For five years pending the estab- ' bailment of Ireland’s coastal defence the facilities for the coastal defence of Ireland shall be given to the British Government, including harbour and other naval facilities in time of war as the British Government may reasonably re- ; "tpw* V

IN THE BALANCE.

BELFAST DISTURBANCES

‘The ninth and tenth clauses forbid Ireland to build submarines unless by agreement with Great Britain. The eleventh and twelfth clauses deal with air communications and ports. 13. Ireland shall assume liability for such share of the present public debt and the payment of war pensions as is fair and equitable, having regard to any Irish counter-claim, the amount whereof to 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 of Ireland shall make any laws directly or indirectly endowing any religion, or prohibit or restrict the free exercise thereof.

16. By way of a transitional arrangement for the administration of Ireland, members elected for the constituencies in Ireland under the 1920 Act shall elect a transitional Government to which the British Government and the Dail Eireann shall transfer : their authority, powers, and machifiery. 17. This instrument shall be submitted for ratification to the Parliament at Westminster end members elected by the 1920 Act, and when ratifications are exchanged it shall take immediate effeet.—A, Cable. '

FATE OF THE TREATY. LONDON, January 5. (Received Jan. 5( at 10.35 p.m;) If Mr Griffith demands a division as to whether Mr do Valera shall be allowed to introduce document No. 2 as an amendment, it will settle the,fate of the treaty, as the voting will be on party line? of the ratificationists and rejectionists, thus bringing the matter to an immediate decision instead of continuing a protracted debate. ■' Amazement ia expressed at the contrast between Mr de Valera’s passionate proclamation and document No. 2, which preserves the closest parallel to the treaty terms.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

MR DE VALERA’S PROCLAMATION.

APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE. OPPORTUNITY FOE RECONCILIATION LOST. LONDON, January 4. (Received Jan. 5, at 8.30 p.m.) Mr do Valera has issued a proclamation asking the people of Ireland not to allow themselves to be rushed into a decision that they might live to deplore—not to set their seal on a settlement which cannot be a settlement. The proclamation asserts that the opportunity for a genuine reconciliation has been lost by a short-sighted expediency politician who, by a threat of war, dragged the Irish delegates beJjond the limit. The circumstances will* ever bo remembered as a crowning act erf infamy by England’s rulers. "You can retrieve the position at the' eleventh hour,” said Mr de Valera. “You are being asked t 6 give your coni sent and approval to a treaty establishing British , authority in Ireland. You are being asked to bind yourselves with yonr own hands. You are asked to give your parole. Refuse. as on yonr honour you must, if yon don’t mean to keep it. Do not allow yourselves to be misled by talk, quibbles, subverting it? It is a shadow that would safeguard your independence instead of subceiting it?. Is it a shadow that would remove the authority of the British. King, of the British Cabinet, and the British Parliament unequivocally from Ireland, that would remove from Ireland the British Governor-General with his ear to a Downing Street telephone, that would rid you of the British occupation, that would relievo Irishmen and Irishwomen of their identity as Irish citizens, and not 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 fear?”

THE WORST FOR WEEKS. PROLONGED FUSILLADE BY MILITARY. LONDON, January 4. (Received Jan. 5, at 6.5 p.m.) Tuesday’s shootings in Belfast were the worst for weeks. The military carried out a prolonged fusillade. The death roll on Monday and Tuesday totalled six. The authorities have proclaimed that It is illegal for two or more persons to stop in any part of the York street area, where 8 o’clock ,curfew will operate from tonight.—A. and N.Z. Cable.