Evening star., 1921-08-16

Tie two latter took their seats to the
srectiyeIy. Cheers were given for the
Republican leader and others for Mr..
Walsh when he was recognized.
IA short prayer was said by t'atner
0Flanagan in Gaelic, followed oy the
Sfearing in of the members. VINO
tSSk the oath as body, by holding
titE their hands. The first member TO
siEn the roll was Michael Coiiins,
SSmmander in chief of the republican
aPmy, who had been elected from
Xhmash. in Ulster. The other invited
members from Ulster were absent
Signing Takes Nearly Hour.
Mr. de Valera, who was elected a
member from both County Down and
County Clare, signed as memoef
from the latter county.
an hour. as 130 members: represent
ing every county in Ireland except
Antrim and every city except Bei1ast'
were present
1.-The calling OF the names OF oir
lanes Craig and other Orangemen
elected to the house of commons was
Received with laughter. while the Sim
Fein members cheered. A special oVa-
tion was accorded John j. Mckeown,
the recently released prisoner, over
whose exception from the first release
order a hitch in the negotiations was
ar one time threatened.
John T Kelly, the Sinn Fe1n MINIS
ter to Paris, who was the temporary
chairman, and DR.. Patrick McCartan,
lust back from America, were among
rhe few members who wore the con-
ventional morning coats. There were
many women in the audience, but
there was lacking such display OF
elaborate costumes as was Witnessed
II the opening of the Belfast parlfa-
ment. A few members or the clefgy
ipn
IL the religious order in their hablts
q other notable figures were MIS-
Pearce, mother Of the late Patrick H.
Pearce and William Pearce, executed
IN Dublin after the 1916 rebellion;
Mrs. O'CaIlaghan, wife of the muir
dered mayor of Limerick. and John
Sweetman White. bearded old ma
fionalist, who has joined the Sim
Fein.
The members having signed the role,
President de Valera formally opened
the new parliament and the speaker
shin election was then held. John
O'Kelly, chairman of the Gaelic
League. was chosen deputy speaker and
Mr.. de valera's speech followed.
! Summing up their impressions % or
ical observers who have been closely
Following the Irish situation gave
these views:
!. That the whole atmosphere of the
meeting, including Mr.. de Valeras
apeech. had given the impression that
the attitude created by the republican
leaders reply to the British govern
ment would be maintained. his speech
suggesting that the reply already
draffed by the dail eireann cabinet
would show an unyielding position.
That it would be indorsed unanimous
ly nv the dali eireann they considered
a certainty.
Oath Not Treason I'm Old Days.
1t was pointed out that while it had
been understood the session beginning
TODAY was called for consideration of
;fbe governments settlement, the first
DAYS proceedings developed chiefly a
further assertion of Irish Independence
and defiance of British authority.
From the speeches delivered their
view was the impression might be
Sained that a government claiming sole
authority in Ireland was part of the
program in conception.
The oath taken by the members, some
Of the observers asserted, would have
been called high treason in the old days.
b IL the members swore not to yield
voluntary support to the pretended
soyernment authority and power within
ireland and to support and defend the
Rrish republic and the DAHL eireann.
tThe view expressed was that II the de-
tasfon of the parliament was not to
Sfand absolutely on the position indi-
Gated by Mr.. de Valera in his previous
Communication to Mr.. Lloyd George,
there were only two alternative ways
dut-the submission Of the question to
= nlebiscite of the people and move on
me part of the government to induce
fTlster to come into the proposed do
ninion.