Great Falls tribune., 1921-12-22

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the applause today and the inc
tended to support this predicti<
George Gavin Duffy, one of the
Irish plenipotentiaries. was the first
speaker before the Dali Wednesday.
He explained his reasons for signing
the document and added:
II will recommend the treaty, reluc-
family but sincerely because | see no
alternative"
He said it would be the duty of the
trainers of the Irish conviction to
"place the foreign king at a consider
able distance from. the Irish people,
adding:
"The king symboIizes in himself the
just anger of the Irish people for 100
years."
Proposes Way to Slight King.
Opposition to referring the treaty to
the Irish electorate was voiced by
Duffy in his argument for ratification.
Duffy said he made no apology for
signing the pact, but felt that he was
bound to drive home to the minds OF
the Irish people the circumstances un-
der which the signatures were extort.
ed. He contended that Ireland could
omit the kings head from the coins of
Tue JTlSH Tree SldIc anu touid siDctlSh
the Union Jack and that in framing
the constitution the Irish people should
put the king Into exterior darkness
as far as possible.
Given Three Hours to Sign.
Going over the events that occurred
in London on December 4 and ). lead
ing up to the agreement, he said Prime
Minister Lloyd George had issued an
ultimatum requiring the signatures to
the treaty of all the delegates under
the threat of immediate war.
He termed it "a monstrous iniquity'
that the delegates who had been in
vited under the prime minister's roof
for the discussion of peaceful settle
ment should have given only three
hours to decide with the opportunity
of consulting Dublin. The treaty, how
ever. should be ratified in the interests
of the people of Ireland, he said
Duffy said the Dali must be given
rational alternative to the treaty be-
fore rejecting it.
Mrs. Macswiney Opposes Pact.
"A1y heart is with those opposing it.
but my reason is against them" he
exclaimed.
Duffy said he agreed with Lord Grey
that no peace with Ireland was pos
sible except on equal terms, but be-
fore the treaty could be rejected some
possible alternative had been produced
and he saw none.
'4The treaty should be ratified under
protest, but ratify it you must he
declared.
Deputy James J. Walsh read letter
from Mrs. Terence MacSwiney. widow
of the late lord mayor Of Cork, VINO
died in Brixton prison last year, IN
which the writer declared acceptance
of the treaty "would be great mis-
take and a great triumph for the en-
emy."
Michael Collins jumped up at this
and said:
"Out Of our great respect for the
deod. we have refrained from reading
letters we have received from relatives
Of the dead, but we have them
Former Canadian Attacks Agreement.
Professor Stockley, Of Cork univer-
sity. formerly of Canada, opposed the
treaty in an impassloned speech. lie
said that whatever there was Of En-
ylishman in him was shamed by the
British conduct regarding the treaty
revealed by George Gavan Duffy.
Deputy Wheelan, of Galway, sup
norted the treaty. He was declaiming
on the importance of the control Of
education accorded by the treaty, when
Mr.. De Valera tartly interrupted him
with the words:
"Education based on dishonor. You
will take an oath you don't mean to
He declared he opposed this course
because e&~the high fearing Of a plebis-
cite campaign would create. Such
campaign, he said, would rend the
country from one end to the other.
The members of the Dali listened
with intense interest while he and
Eamonn Duggan, also member OF
the London delegation, warmly recon-
mendcd acceptance of the treaty.
Mr.. Duffy declared he recommended
ratification reluctantly because ne ar
gued that the signatures Of the Irish
delegates had been forced under
duress.
Denies They Were Coerced.
Mr.. Duggan, on the other hand,
warmly denied that he had been CO.
creed into affixing his signature, de-
claring:
"If the Irish people cannot achieve
freedom under this treaty, it will be
the fault of the people and not of the
treaty"
He declared the pact represented the
fruits Of the sacrifices of all who had
died for Ireland.
every man and woman here" he
continued, lis entitled to 60 out and
die for Ireland. But, none is entitled !
to send the Irish people to death" /
De Valera Explains Proposed Oath.
Eamonn De Valera referring during
the session to what was printed in |
the morning newspapers as his alter |
native oath
"That OATH" he said, twas sug-
gested by me verbally when / was
criticizing not the oath in the treaty, |
but another oath previously suggested.
/ said the first oath was inconsistent |
with our position and verbally indi- |
Gated what we might take instead. |
|