THE IRISH TREATY ACCEPTED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18448, 9 January 1922, Page 4

THE IRISH TREATY ACCEPTED.

The tidings of the ratification of the Irish treaty by Dail Eireann mil be read withi widespread satisfaction, and reHef throughout the whole Empire. The discussion in the Dail has been prolonged—it is a month since the treaty was provisionally concluded,—-and it has been characterised by a sharp cleavage of opinion and by the generation of so much feeling as to cause, some apprehension as to the issue. The culminating debate, which saw the question of ratification put'to the fateful vote, did, not lack sensational features. It fur« nished a keen contest between the Sinn Fein factions, and Mr Collins and his supporters triumphed only through their levelj-headed and uncompromising resist* ance to the tactics of Mr, De Valera and the extremist opponents' of the treaty. The voting—64 for the treaty and 57 against it—indicates the opposition which the ratificatioipsts had to face was numerically J desperate. It is apparent that Mr De Valera made extraordinary efforts to bring the "wobblers" to his side by the exercise of every fraction of his personal influence, but that influence, great as its effect has undoubtedly been in dbstructing a settlement of the differences between Southern Ireland and Great Britain, forfca-* nately proved inadequate to his purpose. In the discussions in Dail Eireann Mr De Valera and his supporters raised the loudest clamour, but the result of the vote leaves them in the" minority. In effect, the decision means the approval of the treaty by the people of Southern Ireland as a whole. "While the issue was in the balance the temper of the' country was, as far as we can judge, indicated > in no uncertain manner. Unless the reports have been very misleading, the feeling in the Irish constituencies is overwhelmingly in favour of the 'treaty, ({That being so, Mr De Valera'can have little to build upon, in any hopes fie may entertain of yet successfully resisting the .logical sequence of events following the decision of Dail Eireann. In point of theatrical effect his solemn resignation of the Presidency of the Irish fell rather flat. Clearly the bond of allegiance has at last been severed between the rank and file of Sinn Fein and Mr De Valera as their leader. J There is neither pathos, nor dignity in the spectacle of this fanatical zealot's last stand against the acceptance by Southern Ireland of the The terms in which a Nationalist journal referred to his attempt to divide the Irißh people in r the present crisis shows how irrevocably Mr De Valera's old ascendancy has vanished. "Just as surely as this treaty goes through," he has declared, "there will be rebels in Ireland." -These, may be true enough words, and ho doubt Mr De Valera will still be a leader of as many rebels .as he can gather tqgether. But the circumstances have altered very materially. His power for. mischief is greatly diminished, and wijl further wane with his vanishing prestige. His pioos desire to find a, Fenian's grave promises' to become the concern, of himself and of the. Government of the country to which ha professes such devotion. In the meantime wisdom has prevailed. No middle course was open to Dail Eireann. It had either to accept the treaty or to roject.it. Despite the -desperate efforts of the extremists, the majority have taken the course which offers Ireland peace and prosperity, with every opportunity for the development of her national aspirations. Let us hope that the vanity of those dreams encouraged to the last by Mr De Vajera and his satellites has been thoroughly realised by the people 'most directly interested, and that the ratification of the treaty by Dail Eiseann means the actual dawn of that new era in Ireland's, destiny as a partner in the commonwealth of nations forming the British Empire, which will end the strife of centuries.