The Washington herald., 1921-12-10
Irish Say Only "a Mem.
bers Will Support,
De Valera.
SENTIMENT FAVORS
ACCEPTING PACT
Predicts Griffith's Elec.
ton Will Follow De-
feat of President.

DUBLIN, Dec. s-The Anglo-Irish
peace treaty is safe.
In spite of Eamonn de Valeras
outburst AGAINST 1t. the treaty will
be ratified Wednesday by Dali Fire
ann by a substantial ma ajority. Some
close observers of Irish politics pre-
dict that Mr.. de Valera will only
carry with him "a out of the 124
members of Dali. Others say he may
get fifty votes. but the question
seems to be the size of the number
of the votes he will win.
II is reported that Mr.. de Valera
intends trying to secure a vote on
the treaty by the people. If this is
his plan he will suffer an even worse
defeat than from Dali. There is no
doubt that the feeling OF the Irish
people is in favor of the treaty.
1t is hard to find a single Irish
man who favors Mr.. de Valera's
course. The walters and elevator
men at the hotels. all ardent mem
bers of the Republican army. men
and women on the street. street car
conductors and all plain people
favor the treaty. Dublin has had
two months of peace, and does not
want a return of war.
Most significant were the remarks
overheard in the crowd waiting for
the arrival of the politicians at the
Mansion House this morning. Sure.
the man Is not Irish,' one woman
said. TO think of him turning his
back on them after they had given
their worh," said a man.
This is the general feeling. and
1t is notable that the Irish people
are now remembering that Mr.. de
Valera is not Irish. and they are
pointing out that their ministers
who oppose the treaty are Mr.. de
Valera, Spanish American, and
Cathal BruGha and Charles Burgess.
English: Austin Stack being the
only Irishman. Mr.. Stack was a
lieutenant in Sir Roger Easements
effort during the war Erskine Chill
ders, also an Englisrman, Is also
supporting Mr.. de Valera.
The cabinet members favorine
the treaty are Arthur Griffith. Mi
chael Collins. w. Cosgrove and
Robert Barton. all Irish.
Mr.. Griffith this morning when he
arrived at the Mansion House was
erect and smiling and confident.
He Is sure of success and he has
already received numerous assur-
ances of support from Cork, Kerry
and Galway.
The situation is far too delicat te
to bear discussion" said he. 'Ev-
erything is all right. 1 have no
fear"
Michael Collins announces that
he is in full agreement with Mr..
Griffith, and 4 similar position wa,
expressed by all the members OF
the peace conference. Mr.. De Val
era issued a written reply to a re-
quest for n statement on his posi-
tion, which follows:
Il hope that it will not be neces-
sary for me to make any further
public statement until l make il at
the coming session of Dali Eireann'
Later in the day he issued the
following statement:
TO prevent misunderstanding
the public should realize that the
treaty signed by the plenipoten-
tiaries must be ratified BY Dai,
Eireann no less than the British
PARLIAMENT to take effect. The
usual course would be for the cab
:net of Dali to introduce the treaty
agreement as cabinet measure
In the present case. owing to the
fact that in the later stages of the
negotiations the views of the dele
cation plenipotentiaries differed
with certain OF members of this
cabinet, this course cannot be
taken. The motion of ratification
will now be introduced by Mr.,
Griffith as chairman of the dele
CATION"
1t Is predicted that Mr.. De Val.
era, In case OF the defeat of the
opposition to the treaty, will re-
sign and that Mr.. Griffith will then
be elected to succeed him as the
first prime minister of the Irish
Free State. \
Copyright, 1871