The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-12-21
HEART OPPOSES
BUT REASON SAYS
TO ACCEPT IT
Duffy Declared That Pre-
mier Lloyd George Gave
Ultimatum to Ireland
With Alternative Of
War If the Treaty Was
Not Signed BY Irish

Dublin, Dec. q tBy the Associated
Press Opposition to referring tn'
Arklo- Irish treaty to the Irish electo
rate was voiced by George Gavar
Duffy, one Of its negotiators, in hls
argument for ratification Of the pact
delivered in this mornings session OF
the Dali Eireann.
Duffy was the first speaker to-day
He explained his reasons for signing
the document, and added; u Will rec
ommend the treaty, reluctantly but
sincerely, because | see no alterna-
tive"
Duff's speech indicated that he as
sumed the treaty would be ratified. tie
said it would be the duty of the farm
ers Of the Irish constitution to place
tthe foreign king at considerable dis
Nance from the Irish people" adding;
"The king symbolizes in himself the
just anger of the Irish people for $50
years"
Members of the Dali. instead of
congrcgating in the lobbies before the
meeting this morning, went promptly
into the council room at the behest OF
the sergeant at-arms. and the days
proceedings started only four minutes
after the hour set.
Duffy said. the Dali must be given
reasonable alternative to the treaty
before rejecting it.
MY heart IL with those opposing it.
but my reason is against them" he ex-
claimed
The treaty. he declared, must be rat.
flied in the interests Of the people of
Ireland
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 I'M
<1er which the signatures were extort-
Duffy contended that Ireland could
omit the kings head from the coins
of the Irish free state, could abolish
the Union Jack, and that in framing
their constitution the Irish people
should put the king into exterior
darkness" A. far as possible.
Going OVER the events that occurred
in London on Dee. 4 aud s. leading up
to the reaching of the agreement. the
speaker said. that Prime Minister
LLOYD George had issued an ultimatum
requiring tho signatures to the treaty
Of all The delegates under the threat
of immediate war. They believed that
tssis time Mr., Lloyd George was not
bIufiing IL was, as the prime minister's
official organ declared, q. ."grim choice. !"
Duffy read from this mornings
newspapers the seni-oilicial denial
from London that the treaty had been
signed under duress.
He said the complaint was not
THAT the alternative TO a treaty was
war. but that war was the alternative
TO this particular treaty, and that the
Irish delegates had been given three
hours to reach a decision, without ref
erence to the home government. under
the penalty "of letting loose fresh hor.
rors Of savages to trample, torture and
cruelty Ireland"
Mr.. Duffy said he recommended the
treaty reluctantly but sincerely, be
cause he saw no alternative The
treaty was not utterly valueless, bat
it was not payment in full. He added
that the treaty offers real power for
the first time and that Ireland would
be IN better position to retain that
power and resist. aggression than. ever
before. even though the present treaty
inflicted an indignity upon Irishnen
by thrusting an English king upon
them.
While insisting upon ratification Of
the agreement. Duffy reiterated the
declaration that Prime Minister Lloyd
George had issued an ultimatum 10 the
!. irieh plenipotentiafies requiring them
No sign the treaty under threat Of i'm
mediate hostuities
Eamonn 7. Dnggan, the last OF the
Irish pleniposcntiaries 10 speak in the !
debate. denied that he had been
'biuffed" into signing the treaty. He
said he had signed il in calm seclusion
and with due consideration to the |
country. the living and the dead He
warmly urged ratification.