The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-20
LITTLE PROGRESS
MADE WITH TREATY
BY DAHL EIREANN
Nothing Tangible Develops to
Indicate How the Members
Voted on Ratification.
DE VALERA STILL HOLDS
OUT AGAINST THE PLAN
Leaders of, the Irish Parliament
Are Greatly Divided
Over the Question.
(sv The Assoelated Pressl

DUBLIN, Dec. 19.-When the Dali
Eireann adjourned tonight after two
lengthy public sessions devoted to
earnest debate, nothing tangible had
developed to indicate how the members
would vote on the question of ratify-
ing the treaty designed to set up the
Irish Free State.
Immediately after adjournment the
correspondent, interviewed four promi
nent Sim Feiners. All of them de-
cIared it was impossible to make any
estimate of the relative strength of
those favoring and those opposing the
treaty, or to hazard a guess as to
which side would eventually gain a
majority. An uncertainty of even the
prominent leaders regarding the re-
suits was reflected on the one side on
Michael Collins declaration that he
might never again address the Dali
Eireann, and, on the other side, Charles
Burgess pointed statement that he
was "still in office" indicating TO the
listeners of 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 fbeen 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
conference to deprive Mr.. DeFalera of
his claim of adherence to the republi-
can principle by demanding the publ
cation Of hts plan for an alternative
settlement, which it was revealed had
been submitted at last weeks private
sessions of the Dali. The argument
was that the nation had right to
know what were the two policies they
were expected to decide upon. and
that, as matter of fact, neither was
republican.
Mr.. DeValera resisted publication Of
his alternative plan, explaining that it
was put forward only in an attempt
to secure unnanimity in the Dali
Eireann, and was now irrelevant. He
promised, however, at a later stage, to
indicate in his own way, the alterna-
tive proposal.
The division in the Sim Fein par
lament cuts across all ordinary lines.
1t is not a case, as today's proceedings
clearly showed, of the Irish army ar
rayed against civilians, for notable
army leaders We're found both for and
against the treaty.
Devalera, Griffith, Collins, Childers,
and several other prominent men in
the councils of the party, spoke today
on either side but it is generally
agreed that the most sensational and
most, impressive contribution was
Robert Bartons narrative OF the cir
under which he and other
delegates were, according to his state
ment, forced to sign the treaty without
referring it back to the cabinet at
Dublin.
Mr.. Barton said his oath to the re-
public was the most sacred bond on
earth, and he had broken it as the
lesser of two ternatiyes-outrage
forced upon him and because he was
to choose Immediately.
Mr.. Griffith, ne explained, had re-
peatedly sought to have the terms re-
ferred back to the Dali Eireann, but
this Premier Lloyd George directely
negatived. The signature of every
of the delegation was neces-
sary or war would follow at once, and
the prime minister gave the delegation
until 10 o'clock to make up their
minds.