The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-14
Dali Eireann Makes Deci-
sion 10 Wait Until
Thursday to Act
? U BLIG Sc SSIO \
Deputies Will Debate Mat
ter at That Time and
Reach Decision
lRv AssocIated Pressl

DUBLIN, Dec. 14.-The Ques-
tion OF acceptance or rejection OF
the treaty by the Dali Eireann has
been postponed until Thursday
when public session will be
held and the deputies will debate
the matter and come to decision,
This was decided upon ut today's
meeting OF tho Dali, called to con-
slider the agreement.
Meanwhile the Dali In secret
session was this afternoon discus
sing the dispute between the dele
gates to the London conference,
who were tho Signers of the agree
mcnt, anN EamOn DeNalern, the
republican president, aud his ad-
herents on this issue, rs to wheth-
er the delegates had the power to
.conclude the agreement.
In tho public session OF the
Dali today-public so fur as the
press and a few selected persons
were ouccrned-this point was
raised by Mr. DeVaIers. II dis
cussed the acute difference be-
tween tho republican president on
the one sIdo and Arthur Griffith
and Michael Collins. the leaders
of the plenipotentiaries, on the
other. In the argument during
the hours public session Mr.. De-
Valera asserted the delegates had
not obeyed the instructions OF the
cabinet charge which both
Collins and Griffith resented.
1t was question of whether
the delegates had failed to report
to tho cabinet before signing the
agreement. Mr.. DeYalera In
sisted this was an important point;
but Mr.. Griffith claimed Il was
not q material oT8a, for VII hLle7 no
and Colleagues had power To 81 iItts
to sign an agreement, they had no (
authority to conclude one. The
representatives of the Dali and Of
the British cabinet were In an
identical position, he pointed out,
as they had each to refer the
treaty to their respective govern
ments for Publications. This was
to form the subject for the sec
ret session, but it appeared from
remarks that were dropped that
certain of the deputies desired to
learn something about the Sim
Feiu's financial and military abil-
ity to resume warfare before cast
ing their votes, and they asked for
reports in private on these points.
One Of tho tensest moments
of the debate was when Michael
Collins declared emotionally:
Il have been called a traitor.
Let the Irish people decide wheth-
er 1 am or not"
Tho only sign Of hostility was
in the vicinity of University col5
lege, wherc a Sim Fein flag, drap-
ed with Grape. in front OF the cole
lege where the meeting was held
President DeValera, who open
cd the proceedings said that the
Dali plenipotentiaries had re-
ceived instructions that the COM
plete text OF the treaty should be
submitted to Dublin and reply
awaited. That, he said, had not
been done.
Arthur Griffith, head Of the
delegation 10 London rose to uak
whether It was alleged that the
plenipoteutlaries had exceeded
their instructions.
NJ 1JeN NulGId SAplnAASu bth$hSSs4A
treaty was signed in tho small
hours Of tho morning after altera-
tions had been made which the
cabinet had not seen. othat ex-
tent, he said, the Instructions had
not been followed.
A motion for q private session
was then made but Mr.. DeYalern
said he thought the general ques-
ton must be debated in public.
Other members argued that the
whole proceedings, with the ex-
ception OF those touching on mtlt-
tary or financial secrets should
be made public.
Very Bitter
LONDON. Dec. IA. 4.-BItternes5
against the British government
Continued on page etahtl