Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-20
No Action Upon
Treaty in Ireland

No Action Upon ~
Treaty in Ireland
Dublin. Dec. 19-(By A. P.)-When
the Dali Eireann adjourned tonight
after two lengthy public sessions de-
voted to earnest debate, nothing tan
/ gi':!e had developed to indicate how
the members would vote on the ques-
ton Of ratifying the treaty designed
to set up the Irish Free State.
Immediately after adjournment,
the correspondent interviewed four
prominent Sim Feiners: Deputy
Duggan, Mrs. Sheehy Skeffington,
Tom Johnson, secretary of the Irish
! Liberal Movement; and Col. Maurice
Moore. All of them declared it was
impossible to make any estimate Of
the relative strength of those fav-
oring and those opposing the treaty.
or to hazard a guess as to which side
would eventually gain a majority.
The uncertainty of even the promi-
| nent leaders regarding the result was
reflected on the one side in Michael
| Collins declaration that he might
never again address the Dali Eireann,
and, on the other side, Charles Bur-
CESS pointed statement that he was
"still in Office" indicating to the lis
teners his apprehension that he
might possibly be defeated
| The proceedings are certain to last
| through tomorrow. as many of the
minor members have indicated their
| intention of speaking. No time limit
has been set for the speeches, and
some think that the debate may even
| continue throughout the entire week.
| An outstanding feature was the at
tempt by the delegates to the London
conferences to deprive Mr.. De Valera
ofih schair of adherence to the Re-
publican principle by demanding the
I publication of his plan for an alter
/ native settlement, which it was re-
vealed had been submitted at last
weeks private sessions of the Dali.
| The argument was thas the nation
| had a right to ;vnow whav were the
two policies they were expected to
decide upon, and that as matter of
fact, neither was republican.
Of his alternative plan, explaining
i that it was put forward only in an
attempt to@secure unanimity in the
Dali Eireann, and was now irrevelant.
He promised, however, at a later
stage to indicate in his own way the
4 alternative proposal.
The division in the Sim Fein par
lament cuts across all ordinary
/ lines. 1t is not a case, as today's pro-
ceedings clearly 81 owed, of the Irish
army arrayed against civilians. for
notable army leaders were found both
/, for and against the treaty.
/ De Valera Griffith, Collins. Child
erS and several other prominent men
in the councils of the party spoke
today on either side.
Mr.. Collins, at the outset of his de-
Tense fthe treaty. reviewed events
that took place in the last dali cab
met meeting before the Irish pleni-
potentiaries returned to London. He
said they left that meeting with de-
cisions, or impressions, which they
did their best to carry out. The is
sue was limited to the following
Tuesday by arrangements that had
been made with Premier Sir James
Craft of Ulster. and he declared it
must be obvious that there was no
further time for referring these late
developments back to the home GOV
eminent.
He declared his signature to the
document would have been the same
if he had been in oLndon, Dublin.
Paris or New York. He said there
had been talk of 'the atmosphere of
London and declared he knew it of
old. and the people who talked of
| slippery slopes knew all about it be-
fore the delegates were sent.
Mr.. Collins read the correspond
! ence that preceded the negotiations,
! showing that Mr.. Lloyd George had
expressly barred recognition of the
Irish republic. Yet he said, the dele
gates were chosen and sent If they
had stood ON recognition of the re-
| public. they could have said so, and
there would have been no conference,
he declared.
Il do not recommend the treaty for
I more than it is nor for less than it
is" he continued. "In my opinion, it
GIGS US freedom, not the ultimate
freedom that all nations desire and
develop toward, but freedom to
achieve it"
He declared the treaty was not
signed by personal intimidation, but
everybody knew that the whole Drin-
ciple between Great Britain and Ire
land had been based on intimidation.
He continued: I'VE did not go over,
to dictate terms. to the vanGuished
for we knew we had not vanquished
them, and driven them out of the
country. Irish history is not a his
tory of military struggle over 80
ycara, symboliZed in the name of the
republic.
1t is history Of $50 years OF
peaceful penetration ty England that
cannot be stopped except by politi-
cal freedom. The treaty gives Ire
land security and political freedom.
England could not interfere witt
! Canada, Mr.. Collins continued, and
ireland would have the benefit of as
gociaton with Canada and the othe:
sominions to prevent interference
Canada could appoint a representative
ut Washington and in the League OF
Nations and England could not MAKE
war without consulting Canada. Ire.
land wouldsbe in the same condition
Those who cited Lloyd George OF