The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-09
FE|N
WARCH|EF
. IN FAVOR
Of TREATY
PIebiscite Expected to Show
That dc Valera Lacks Back
~ ing In Opposition,

DUBLIN, Dec. Am impartial
canvass Of Dial Eireann (Sinn Fein
parliament) today revealed a big
majority for Arthur Griffith, lead
er Of the faction supporting the
Irish peace treaty.
De Valera Refuses Comment.
Tho Sim Fein cabinet will intro
duce the Irish peace treaty to Dali
Eireann as a government measure"
said Eamon de Valera today. ut
viii be handed in by Arthur Griffith,
head OF the peace delegation, who will
ask It's ratification. 1t must be rati-
fled by Dali Eireann the same as by
the British parliament at London be-
fore 1t is effective. cannot make a
statement until Tuesday,"
II stand with Arthur Griffith
whole-heartedly in this matter and
will support the treaty." said Michael
Collins today in discussing the Sim
Fein break over the peace terms.
Compromise Is Sought.
Fractional strife IL threatened in the
ranks of the Sim Fein as q result of
the Irish peace agreement. Already
two factions have grown up and fears
be q break when Dali Eireann meets
next Wednesday. However, strong
agencies are at work to effect a com.
promise.
De Valera Opposed.
Irish newspapers today took issue
with cannon de Valera on account of
his attitude toward the peace agree
ment. They expressed the opinion
that the Sim Fein leader was wrong
in attacking the treaty and In issuing
a statement saying that ''the terms
are In violent conflict with the wishes
Of a majority of the Irish people"
THE people are behind the plenipo-
tentiaries who signed the treaty" said
the Freeman's Journal. DE Valera's
action has caused dismay," said the
Irish Times. THE settlement had
been accepted with Joy"
De Valera to Fight Treaty.
The dissensions came to a head
when Eamon de Valera issued
statement to the Irish people saying
that the terms of the peace agree.
ment are in conflict with the views
Of the majority,
DE Valera said he would work
against ratification of the treaty In
the Sinn Fein Parliament next week.
On the other hand, Arthur 0rif-
fifth, founder of the Sim Fein and
vice president Of the Irish republic
accepted the terms and signed the
treaty. The Griffith faction is Sup
ported by the powerful group OF
leaders In the Irish republican army
headed by Michael Collins, com
rnander-in-chjef.
Griffith takes the view that he Is
in homo, bound to support the treaty
as he signed II. The other Sim
Fein signers were Collins, e. j.
Duggan, chief liaison officer of the
Irish republican army; r. c. Barton.
minister of economies in the Sim
Fein cabinet, and G. Gavan Duffy,
Sim Fein envoy to Rome.
De Valera Is supported by two
members OF the Sim Fein Tor Dali
cabinet. Cathal Burgha, minister OF
defense. and Austin Stack, minister
of home affairs.
Press Is for Peace.
The sentiment OF the press Is that
all the Sim Fein leaders were bound
by the signatures OF the Irish en-.
voys at London.
The city has the appearance OF
great clearing war camp. Hundreds
of Sim Fein prisoners, just released
from detention camps, arc arriving
on every train. Most OF them are
badly clad and shod. They excited
great deal of sympathy as thoy
marched through the streets.
DE Valera looked worn aud weary