The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-12-21
De Valera Center of
Wordy Clash Ques-
ton of Veracity Is
Raised and Physical
Violence Is Threatened
Whole Matter Be-
coming Muddled
Enters Third Day


ed. Press. 1.-THE Dali Eireann today
entered the third day of it's public
discussion of the Irish peace treaty,
with the outcome of the vote on the
question of ratification still in doubt
Claims of the opposing factions
ranged from majority of two against
the treaty to ten in its favor
Belfast, Dec. 21.-(By the Associat-
ed Press. u stand by everything
said," declared Richard Barton the
correspondent today when shown a
semi-oflicial statement issued in Lor-
don denying that Premier Lloyd
George had coerced the Irish plenipo-
tentiaries through threat of war, as
stated by Mr.. Barton in the Dali
Eireann.
Mr. Barton was member of the
Sim Fein delegation which signed the
treaty.
The London statement, given out
yesterday declared that if the Irish
plenipotentiaries had acted under du-
ress, it must have been the duress of
their own minds, or that of circum-
stances. There had been no eleventh
hour declaration on the part of the
government and in view of the Irish
Well-known determination to accom-
plish as much as possible, there is
no element of truth in the statement
(of Mr.. Barton).
A Dublin dispatch to the Associated
Press on Monday quoted Mr.. Barton
as saying in the Dali that Arthur Grit
nth had repeatedly sought to have
terms transmitted to the Dali but that
Premier Lloyd George had directly
negatived this. He said the premier
had declared the signature of every
. member of the delegation necessary
or war would follow at once and gave
them until 10 O'clock that night to
make up their minds.
Is Men Kidnapped
Belfast. Dec. 21.-(By the Associat-
ed Press. )-Armed gangs operating in
the Limavady district of Londonderry,
took ID men from their homes yester-
day, removing them to an unknown
destination. The raiders, who were
not disguised, were strangers to the
neighborhood.
Wor sted in Debate
London, Dec. 21.-Eamonn de Va
!, lera was worsted in yesterdays de-
bate of the Dali Eireann by John Mil
roy's disclosure of=the substitute oath
of allegiance, saids to have been pre-
pared by Mr.. de Valera, in the opinion
of the. English newspaper correspond
.ents at Dublin. They did not look
upon developments as favorable to
ratificationsof the treaty, however. as
hn fir.cf,
their dispatches all predictions as to
a probable result of the vote in the
Dali.
In regard to yesterdays debate, the
Daily Mail reporter wrote:
1.-THE great de Valera bubble has
been pricked De Valera and
his companions were completely dis
comforted by Milroys disclosure"
The prospect of bitter political
struggle resulting from the debates
in the Dali was discussed in some
quarters, where it was said that ac-
cusations of treachery have been pri-
vately spread and fostered. These
were causing a split which could hard
ly be healed and were likely eventu-
ally to lead to physical encounters.
Arthur Griffith and his supporters
in the struggle to secure ratification
are directing their efforts toward
making clear their belief that the
choice is not between the status pro-
vided in the treaty and that of an in
dependent Irish republic They can
tend that Eamonn de Valera's alterna-
tive proposals which have not yet been
made public, differ only in a slight
degree from the terms of the treaty.
Both the Irish Independent and the
Freeman's Journal feature the com.
parison of the oath of allegiance pro-
vided for in the treaty and the oath
which it is said Mr.. de Valera pro.
poses. Both newspapers, in their cap
tions refer to the two oaths as "Twee.
dledum and Tweedledee."
Gavin Duffy, one of the Irish pleni-
potentiaries, was the first speaker be.
fore the Dali today. He explained his
reasons for signing the document and
added: II will recommend the treaty.
reluctantly but sincerely, because |
see no alternative" Duffy's speech
Indicated that he assumed the treaty
would be ratified
Duffy contended that Ireland could
omit the kings head from the coins
Of the Irish Free State and could abol
ish the Union Jack and that in fran
ing their constitution, the Irish peo
pie should put the king into exterior
darkness" ,as far as possible.
Going over the events that occurred
IN London on December and lead
ing up tosthe reaching OF the agree
msft. he rafd that Prime Minister