The New York herald., 1921-12-15


weigh the London agreement Mr.. de
Valera would be badly defeated.
Enjoys Powers Questioned.
AT the public meeting o. the Dahl
1ireann to-day Eamon de Valera. the
President, and Arthur Griffith. Mich
ael Collins and other Dali deputies ex-
pressed their views as to whether the
Irish delegation to London had ex-
ceeded it's powers In signing the agree
ment with the British Cabinet. De
Valera contended that the treaty
should not have been signed without
Its having first been referred TO the
Dublin Parliament. Delegates Griffith
and Collins insisted that they and
their colleagues had the power in
vested in them TO sign an agreement.
but not the authority 10 conclude It,.
Mr.. Griffith asserted that the repre-
sentatives of the Dahl Eireann and of
the British Cabinet in this respect
were in identical positions. as each
was obligated to refer the treaty to
their respective legislatures for rati-
1ication.
Resent De vaiera's Position.
Both MIR. Collins and Mr.. Griffith dur
ing the discussion. resented a statement
of President De Valera that the delega-
tion to London had not obeyed the in
structions Of the Dublin Cabinet.
The first Of the secret conferences
lasted from 1 o'clock In the afternoon
until 2 o'clock. Then, after a long re-
cess, the deputies reassembled at 4 80
o'clock and the meeting continued until
q late hour this evening.
The meeting of the members OF the
Parliament behind closed doors was con-
fined to animated discussion of the ques-
ton as to how far the plenipotentiaries
to London were Justified by their In
structions in signing treaty with Great
Britain without having resubmitted the
treaty to President de Valera and his
cabinet
Mr.. Griffith, quietly. and Mr.. Collins
with some heat, in the public session
resented any suggestions that they had
failed to carry out their instructions or
that they had exceeded them in any de-
gree. II took a longer time than had
teen anticipated to clear up the points
In dispute. and as Mr. de Valera had
made plain his dissatisfaction with the
method adopted by the plenipotentiaries
a secret debate was decided upon.
Reviewing the circumstances leading
I'D to the appointment of the plenipo-
tlntiaries. Mr.. de Valera said he had
Ilade II clear at the meeting OF the Dali
that the plenipotentiaries should have
1ull plenary powers. but that whatever
arrangement was reached would be sub
,nitted to the Dali for ratification. The
Cabinet, he declared. would not have
sent any five men to negotiate a treaty
which would bind the nation without
come larger body representing the ma
ton having an opportunity of criticizine
and reviewing 1t.
Cabinet Powers Pressed.
Mr. de Valera said his idea was that
when the plenipotentiaries had arrived
at an agreement In principle and had q
rough copy of the document they were
prepared to sign they should have sent
II to the Cabinet. He could only say
that when ne did see the final text he
could not see his way to sign or recon-
mend it. This was a case of a differ
ence of opinion between two bodies
which would naturally arise. and he
was anxious that the difference of
opinion should not interfere with the
discussion of the treaty.
Arthur Griffith asked whether Il was
alleged that the plenipotentiaries had
exceeded their instructions.
Mr.. de Valera explained that the
treaty was signed in the small hours
Of the morning after alterations had
been made which the Cabinet had not
seen. To that extent, he said, the in
structions had not been followed.
Michael Collins then asked that the
final document agreed to In Dublin by
the united Dali Cabinet should be put
side by side with the document signed
in London by the plenipotentiaries
They did not sign that document as a
treaty, he said. but on the understand
fng that all the signatories would rec
ommend II to the Dali for acceptance.
He protested against what he char.
acterized as the unfairness that lay In
submitting one document without sub
hitting the original credentials. He read
the credentials of himself and his COL
leagues. signed by De Valera, authoriz-
ing them TO nesotiate and conclude on
behalf of the Republic of ireland. with
representatives of his Britannia Maj
esty. "A treaty or treaties OF settlement
association or accommodation between
ireland and the community OF nations
known as the British Commonwealth
The Dali. he continued. had full power
Of rejection and could relieve him OF
responsibility.
President de Valera argued that the
treaty should not have been signed with
out its having been referred to Dublin.
One reason why he bad not been dele
cate himself, he explained, was that an
opportunity for delay might be afforded.
He did not say that II they had seen
the final document 1t world have mat
tered.