The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-12-16
irish DELEGATES
EXCEEDED POWER
Pact Should Have Been Sub
mitted Before Signed
Says de Valera


Irish agreement by the Dali Eireann
has been postponed until Thursday
wien public session will be held and
the deputies will debate the matter
and come to decision. This was de-
cided upon at today's meetings of the
Dali. called to consider the agree
ment
Meanwhile, the Dali in secret ses-
sion, was this afternoon discussing
the disputes between the delegates
10 the London conference, who were
the signers of the agreement, and Ea-
NOM de Valera, the Republican Pres
ident, and his adherents on this is
sue, as TO whether the delegates had
the power to conclude the agreement.
Reveal Acute Difference.
In the public session OF the Dali
today--public so far as the press and
n few selected persons were concern
ed--this point was raised by Mr.. de
Valera. II revealed the acute diff
ference existing between the Repub-
lican President on the one side and
Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins.
the leaders of the plenipotentiaries,
on the other. In the argument. dur
ing the hours public session. Mr.. de
Valera asserted the delegates had not
-obeyed the instructions of the cabinet
IA charge which both Collins and
Griffith resented
II was a question Of whether the
deleaates had failed to report to the
Cabinet before signing the agreement
MIR. de Valera insisted this was an
important point, but Mr.. Griffith
claimed II was not a material one,
for wAile he aud colleagues had pow
er to sign an agreement they had no
authority to conclude one.
Called Traitor, Says Collins.
The representatives of the Dali and
of the British Cabinet were in an
identical position. he pointed out.
and they had each to refer the
treaty to their respective legislatures
for ratification.
This question was to form the sub
.ject for the secret session, but 1t APP
peared from remarks that were drop
ped that certain OF the deputies de-
sired to learn something about the
Sim Fein's financial and military
ability TO resume warfare before cast
Ing their votes, and they asked for
reports in private on these points
One OF the ts:lsest moments of the
de6ate was whch Mich ecl Collins de-
clared emotionally:
Il have been called a traitor. Let
the Irish people decide whether I avn
or not"
The only sign of hostility In the
vicinity of University College. where
today's meeting was held, was a
Sim Fein flag draped with crepe
which some one had hoisted on a tel
ephone pole in front of the college.
ykThe oceedings were opened by
Eanonn de Valera after the roll had
been called. He spoke few words
in Gaelic and then broke into Eng
lish. He said the proceedings would
be conducted in English, as some of
the members did not understand
Irish. Abiding to the agreement
pending before the Dali, he said that
division of opinion in the Cabinet was
not extraordinary.
Pact Not Submitted 10 Cabirt.
President de Valera explained at
some length the circumstances under
which the plenipotentiarics of the
Dali who met the British representa-
tives for the negotiations in London
had been appointed. On October 7, he
said. the plenipotentiaries had re-
ceived instructions. the most impor-
tant OF which was that the complete
text of the treaty should be submitted
10 Dublin and reply awaited. That,
he said had not been done. 1t was
always understood also, he declared,
that ratification by the Dahl was es-
sential.
He invited question with regard
10 the conduct>of Interpretations. He
said the question must be consider
ed on its merits and should not be
influenced by the mere accident Of
difference OF opinion in the Cabinet
or any other extraneous matters.
Cannot Recommend Treaty.
Reviewing the circumstances lead
ing up TO the appointment OF the
plenipotentiaries, Mr.. de Valera said
he had made II clear at the meeting
OF lie Dali that the plenipotentiaries !