Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-14
Dali Leaders in Tilt;
Pact Vote Tomorrow
csrfinued from rsso On,

treaty.
De Valera Opens Proceedings
The proceedings we're opened by De
called, spoke few words in Gaelic.
end then broke into English.
President De Valera explained at some
length the circumstances under which the
plenipotentiaries of the Dali who met
the British representatives for the ne
got3ntions In London had been ap.
pointed. On October z, he said, the
pienipotentiaries had received instruc-
lions the most important of which was
the complete text of the treaty should
be submitted to Dublin and reply
awaited That. he said. had not been
done. II was always understood also,
he declared, that ratification by the Da.l
was essential.
He invited a question with regard 20
the conduct Of the negotiations. lie
said tho question must be considered oil
it's merits and should not be influenced
by. the mere accident of difference OF
opinion in tho cabinet or any other ex =
trnneous matters.
Reviewing the circumstances leading
mp TO the appointment OF the pleni-
potentiaries. Mr.. de Valera said nc had
made IL clear at the meeting of the
have full plenary powers, but that
whatever arrangement was reached
would be submitted TO the Dali for
ratification. The Cabinet, he declared,
would not have sent any five men to
negotiate treaty which would bind the
nation without some larger body rep
resenting the nation having an oppor-
tunity Of criticizing and reviewing it.
Mr.. do Valera said bis idea was that
when the plenipotentiaries had arrived
at an agreement in principle and had a
rough copy Of the document they were
prepared to sign they should have sent
IL to the Cabinet. He could only say
that when he did sec the final text he
could not zee his way to sign or recon-
msnd 1t. This was case of difference
of opinion between two bodies which
would naturally arise, and he was
anxious that the difference OF opinion
should not interfere with the discussion
of the treaty.
Collins Questions President
After Mr.. de Valera had concluded
Arthur Griffith, head of the delegation
10 London, who, with Michael Collins
and the other plenipotentiaries signed
the peace agreement. rose to ask
whether it was alleged that the pleni-
potentiaries had exceeded their instr1ic-
tions.
Mr.. de Valera explained that the
treaty was signed IN the small hours Of
the morning, after alterations had been
made which the Cabinet had not seen.
To that extent, he said, the instructions
Ind not been followed.
Micheal Collins then asked that the
final document agreed 10 in Dublin by
the United Dali Cabinet be- put side by
side withe the document signed in Lon
don By the plenipotentisries. They did
not sign that document as a treaty. he
said, but on the understanding that all
tho signatories would recommend il to
the Dali for acceptance.
DIR. White then moved a private ses-
sion. Mr.. de Valera said he thought
the general question must be debated in
public, but that the matter referred to
ought TO be discussed in private. State
inents had just been made by dele
gates which were not facts, he said.
Other members argued that the whole
proceedings, with the exception Of those
touching upon military or financial Sc
crets; should be made public.
All the newspapers and the so-cnl!ed
moderate opinion strongly support the
stand taken by Arthur Griffith, Michael
Collins and the other signers of the
peace agreement with England, but the
majority Of the Dali members are still
silent as 10 their attitude. Only the
vote for ratification, il such vote is
taken today, will show where they
stand.
Dublin Crowded With Visitors
Dublin looks like o convention city.
1t In crowded with men and women
seeking by their influence 10 affect the
result of the Dails action. But no.
body will venture to predict the result.
1t IS possible that, instead Of a direct
vote on ratification or rejection OF the
agreement, the Dali will refer the qucs =
ton to the people OF Southern Ireland
through a plebisctte.
The Irish republican army took charge
early this morning of traffic in the
vicinity of the national university, In
the council chamber of which the Dali
will meet. Crowds had gathered in the
hope that the public would be admitted
to the session, but this was decided
against, as the chamber IS only large
enough to accommodate the 10 mem
bers Of the Dali Eireann and 100 news
paper correspondents.
Uniformed military police we're sta =
toned at each end Of the street to as =
sist the men Of the Irish Republican
army in forcing an order prohibiting
vehicular traffic.
The members Of the puil as they ar
rived all bore the nttiture Of men ab-
sorbed by the momentous task ahead Of
them. Michael Collins was engaged lu
earnest conversation with Robert e.
B0rton, who did not have Il smile ever
for his most intimate friends. He tool
seat at the right of the speaker, where
he was joined by Arthur Griffith. Botf
men went over the notes for thc!,
speeches.
Countess MarkiewicZ Cheered
There was one exception 10 the seri'
6us mien Of the arriving members. thi!
being Countess Markiewicz, who smiled
with pleasure over the cheers given hel
by the boys Of University College, y
which De Valera was recently electc<
chancellor. The hall in which the Ses
sion was held accommodated only TN
40 members of the Dali, an NOuu
number Of newspaper men, and n Yer.
few favored Irish men and women o
} Iublic boards, such BS the Lord Mayo
OF Dublin, the Aldermen and Mrs. +
Sheehy Skettin ngton.
The Speaker was on o raised dals
with the Cabinet to left and right OF
cross benches, much as in the HOus
OF Lords, and with the other Dcputic
facing him. The press and the pUbll
sat behind the Speakers chair.
De Valera entered the chamber q
II 80 o'clock and took n scat to III
left OF the Speaker, facing bis chic