Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-12-14
LEADERS
CLASH In
. DISPUTE
De Valera Accuses
Delegates of Exceed
ing Authority In Ne
gotiating Settlement

| gotiating Settlement
Dublin, Dec. 1.-THE question
of ratification or rejection Of the
Anglo-Irish agreement by the
Dali Eireann has been postponed
until Thursday, when a public
session will be held and the depu-
ties will debate the matter and
some to a decision. This was de-
cided upon at today's meeting OF
the Dali, called to consider the
agreement.
Meanwhile the Dali in secret
session this afternoon was discuss
ing the dispute between the dele
gates to the London conference,
who were the signers of the agree
ment, and Eamon DeValera, the
republican president and his ad-
herents on this issue, as to wheth-
er the delegates had the power to
conclude the agreement.
Says Power Exceeded
President DeValera, who opened
the proceedings, explained the
circumstances under which the
plenipotentiaries of the Dali, who
met the British representatives
for the negotiations in London,
had been appointed. On October
n, he said, the plenipotentiaries
had received instructions the most
Important of which was that the
complete text of the treaty should
be submitted to Dublin and re-
ply awaited. That, he said, had
not been done. 1t was always un-
derstood also, he declared, that
ratification by the Dali was essen
tial.
Reviewing the circumstances
Heading up to the appointment of
the plenipotentiaries, Mr. DeVa-
lera said he had made it clear at
the meeting of the Dali that the
tplenipotentiaries should have full
plenary powers, but that what
ever arrangement was reached
would be submitted 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 some larger body repre-
senting the nation having an op-
portunity Of criticizing and re-
viewing it.
\ After Mr.. DeValera had con.
cluded. Arthur Griffith, head of
the delegation to London, who
with Michael Collins and the 9TH
err plenipotentiaries signed the
peace agreement, rose to ask
whether 1t was alleged that the
plenipotentiaries had exceeded
their Instructions.
Collins Takes Exception
Mr.. DeValera explained that
the treaty was signed in the small
hours of the morning after altera-
tions had been made which the
cabinet had not seen. To that ex-
tent, he said, the instructions had
not been followed.
Michael Collins then asked that
the final document agreed to In
Dublin by the United Dali cabi-
net should be put Side by side
with the document signed in Lon
don by the plenipotentiaries.
They did not sign that document
as treaty. he said. but on the
understanding that all the sigma
tories would recommend II 10 the
Dali for acceptance.
President DeValera argued that
the treaty should not have been
signed without its having been
referred to Dublin. One reason
why he had not been a delegate
himself, he explained. was that
an opportunity for delay might
be afforded,
Rescnts Traitor Charge
One of the tensest moments
was when Michael Collins declar-
ed emotionallyI
II have been called a traitor.
Let the irish people decide wheth-
er ] am or not"
The only sign Of hostility in the
vicinity of the University college.
where tsday's meeting was held,
was a Sim Fein flag draped with
crepe. which some one had hoist
ed on a telephone pole In front of
the college.