The Washington herald., 1921-12-09
FAVOR new OATH.
Two Other Sim Fein
Chiefs Oppose Accept
ing Offer.
PART OF CABINET
SUPPORTS PACT
Dublin Cheers Return of
5000 Soldiers Released
From Jail.

Nhe IAN Eireann is definitely split
on the question of accepting the
peace treaty signed by Sim Fein
representatives and members of the
British government in London.
Eamonn de Valera. leading the op-
position of extremists against the
treaty. has declared the terms of
the agreement in violent conflict
to the wishes of the majority of
the Irish nation as expressed freely
In successive elections for the past
three years"
De Valera. in a statement issued
after an intense intereabinet strug-
gle that lasted far into the night,
declared that he must refuse to
recommend the treaty for accept
ance by the Dali Eireann. In his
stand he was supported by Cathal
Baugh and Austin Stack, ministers
OF home affairs and defense. The
remainder OF the cabinet is said TO
have favored the treaty.
PbIIc Session Next Week.
Il feel it my duty to inform you
Immediately that l cannot recon-
mend acceptance OF this>treaty," De
Valera declared. either by the Dali
Eireann or by the country.
In this I am supported by the
ministers of home affairs and de-
fense. A public session of the Dali
Eireann will be summoned for mex,
"Wednesday.
7 ask the Irish people to main
tain during the interval the same
discipline as heretofore. The men,
hers OF the cabinet, though OF d.
vided opinion. are prepared to carry
on the public service as usual. The
army, as such. Is, OF course, un-
affected by the political situation
and continues under the same or
ders.
The great test of our peopfe
has come. Let US meet il worthily
without bitterness and, above all
without recriminations-
There is a definite constitutional
way of resolving our political diff
ferences. Let US not depart from
II. and let the conduct of the caoi-
net in this matter be an example
to the whole nation"
oppo.e. Form of oath.
A full session of the Dali Eireann
will be held next week to consider
possibly the two distinct sets OF
Recommendations, one from the men
who signed the document at the
close of the peace parley, the other
from President de Valera and his
adherents. The treaty Will be con-
sidered in a private session. and the
main fight will be centered around
the proposal to withdraw the pres
ent form of oath calling for al
1aeiance to the republic to make
wav for the new oath provided fol-
in the treaty.
The Dali cabinet convened in the
afternoon and remained in session
until 6 o'clock. when il adjourned
for a two-hour recess. No indica-
tion was afforded concerning the
trend of the discussion, but the
fact that the conference was to be
extended into the evening told tht
story Of strenuous debate behind
/, the closed doors.
I shortly before midnight the
cabinet arose, and De Valera made
his statement of refusal to submit
the treaty to the Dali with his per-
sonal recommendations for ap-
nrovaI Announcement was made
a. the same time that Baugh and
Austin were also strenuously op-
posed to acceptance.
Plan to Recall Troops.
Earlier it was officially stated
that within one month from the
ratification OF the treaty all crown
forces will have been withdrawn
from ireland.
LIoyd George meets the first test
Of the Irish treaty from the Ulster
standpoint tomorrow, when Sir
James. Craig. Ulster premier. will
ask him to explain certain clauses
which the Ulsterites maintain are
unfair to the North and discrimi-
mating in favor OF Sim Fein.
listers official attitude probably
will depend upon the premier's ex-
planation of the doubtful points,
and his ability to convince the
Northern leader that Ulster has
suficient safeguards against doml-
!, ntion by the South.
In the meantime. the outcome of
the Ulster cabinet meeting is taken
(to indicate a cautious tendency to
try out the new proposals, but no:
until after one or two years have
passed and Sim Fein haf demon
strated Its ability to govern the
country in a satisfactory manner
Dublin's stand Uncertain.
Uncertainty surrounded the atti-
tude of Dublin all day. All reports
from the southern capital showed
that the leaders were having an
extraordinarily difficult task.
The Evening Standards Dublin
correspondent notes that when the
Dali Eireann cabinet met the only
members who smiled were those
who took part in the London deci-
sion. President de Valera and others
of his party appeared grave and
tsciturn-
II is understood that Ulster win
demand the same powers Of taxation
and finance as those accorded Sim
Fein when Craig lays his case be-
fore the premier The Ulster pre-
mier left Belfast at o'clock to-
night for London. accompanied by
81 Ernest Clark. financial secretary.
which would indicate that the fnan-
ctal clauses of the treaty will form
one of the principal subjects for
discussion