IRELAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10284, 14 January 1922, Page 1

IRELAND.

MR GRIFFITH ELECTED PRESIDENT. LONDON, January 10. Mr Arthur Griffith has been elected President of the Dail Eireann. THE CABINET. The new President has made the following appointments : Mr C. Collins (Cork S.), Minister of Finance. ! Mr G. C. Duffy (Dublin S.), Minis- : ter of Foreign Affairs. Mr E. J. Duggan (Meath S.), Home Office. Mr W. T. Cosgrave (Kilkenny N.) ( : Local Government. Mr K. C, Higgins (Queen's County) Economics. '• Mr R. J. Mulcaby (Dublin), De- ! fence. Mr Collins moved the motion for Mr Griffith's election to the Presidency. DE VALERAITES WALK OUT. There was a sensational scene over Mr Griffith's election. Mr Etchingham was speaking in opposition to the motion, when Mr Walsh moved that the question be put. Mr Boland, Mr Childers, and other leading de Valeraites rose in protest. Mr de Valera rose, declaring that he could not remain in the Chamber while the election motion was being put. He thereupon walked out accompanied by C 5 members, and the motion'was unanimously carried. As Mr de Valera's following wai; leaving noisily, Mr Collins sprang up, indignantly, and shouted: "We now call on the Irish people to rally to us. We shall stand by the nation in the hour of trial." The Countess Markievicz, who was retiring, shouted: "Slaves, cowards." PRESIDENT'S POLICY. LONDON, January 10. When the Dail Eireann re-assemb-led in'the afternoon, all the Republican members rose in their seats. Mr de Valera asked Mr Griffith for-, a declaration of policy. He promised not to obstruct the new President, while he upheld the authority of the Irish Republic. Mr Griffith replied that his policy was to do the best he could for the Irish people. Mr Childers then rose • and MiGriffiths angrily declined to take any notice of Mr Childers. Striking his fist on the table he added: "I won't reply to any damned Englishman; this is the Dail Eireann." Mr Childers, white with passion, said: "You have no business to question my nationality. This is a matter for my constituents. lam not a true Englishman." The Speaker ruled the matter out of order. I SOVEREIGN NATION OR RE- | PUBLIC. j After' the Childers affairs was disposed of, Mr Mac Neill, on leaving the chair, proposed a motion: "That Ireland is a sovereign nation." He said that he did not want it to be possible for anyone to say in future that the Irish people had not insisted on their rights. Mr de Valera moved an amendment, to the effect that the Dail Eireann reaffirms, in the name of the Irish people, the Declaation of Independence made on January 21, 1919. Mr Mac Neill accepted the amendments, which became a substantive motion. Mr Griffith, however, indicated that he would treat the motion contentiously, so Mr Mac Neill withdrew it. Mr de Valera to the last maintained that Mr Griffith was bound to preserve the Republic. Mr Griffith replied that he would keep the Republic intact until the people decided for or agauist the Treaty. A deputation of the Labour organisation requested the House to deal witb unemployment and special land re-settlement. Mr Griffith suggested the appointment of a committee to confer with the Government. A message was read from the Pope rejoicing with the Irish people on the agreement reached with England. Finally the Dail Eireann adjourned till February 14, Mr Mulcahy promising that the army would be kept intact ani be the army of the Republic.