Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-12-14
IRISH ACTION
|SPOSTPONED
Dali Eireann DeferS Action
Until TomorroW's Session
--Secret Meeting
DISPUTES ARE DISCUSSED
Acute Differences Between De
Valera and Collins and
GriffithS

DUBLIN, Dec. IA (By The Asso-
ciated Press) THE question of rat
ifcation or rejection of the Anglo-
Irish agreement by the Dali Eireann
has been postponed until Thursday
when a public session will be held
and the deputies will debate the mat
ter and come to a decision.
This was decided upon at today's
meeting of the Dali called to con-
slider the agreement.
Meanwhile, the Dali in secret ses-
sion, was this afternoon discussing
the disputes between the delegates
to the London conference who were
signers of the agreements on this is
sue as to whether the delegates had
the power to conclude the treaty.
In the public session of the Dali
today-public so far as the press and
a few selected persons We're con-
cerned-this point was raised by
Mr.. de Valera. 1t developed the
acute difference existing between
the Republican president on the one
side and Arthur Griffiths and Mich
ael Collins. leaders of the plenipo-
tentiary, on the other.
In the argument during the pub
Tic session Mr.. de Valera asserted
the delegates had not obeyed in
structtons of the cabinet-a charge
which both Collins and Grifiths re-
sented.
1t was a question of whether the
delegates had failed to report 10 the
cabinet before signing the agree
ment. Mr.. de Valera insisted this
was an important point, but Mr..
Griffith claimed it was not mate
rial one, for while he and Collins
had power to sign an agreement
they had no authority to conclude
one. The representatives of the
Dali and of the British cabinet
were in an identical position. he
pointed out. as they had each to re-
fer the treaty to their respective
legislatures for ratification.
This question was to form the
subject for the secret session, but
IL appeared from remarks that
would drop that certain of the dep
uties desired to learn something
about the Sim Fein financial and
military ability to resume warfare
before casting their votes and they
asked for reports in private on these
points.
One of the tensest moments OF
the Debate WIS witch -uANhoNt W.
Inns declared:
II have been called a traitor. Let
the Irish people decide whether
am or not"
The only sign of hostility in the
vicinity OF University College, where
today's meeting was held. was q
Sim Fein flag draped with crepe
which some one had hoisted on a
telephone pole in front of the col
iege.
President de Valera, who opened
the proceedings. explained the cir
cumstances under which the pleni-
potentiaries of the Dali who met the
British negotiators, had been ap-
pointed. On October the plenipo-
tentiaries received instructions, the
most important of which was thai
a complete text of the treaty be sub
mitted TO Dublin and a reply await
ed. That, he said, had not beer
done. 1t always was understood also
he declared, that ratification by ths
Dali was essential.
Mr.. de Valera invited a question
with regard to the conduct OF tbs
negotiations. He said the question
must be considered on its merit:
and should not be Influenced by tbs
mere accident of a difference o.
opinion in the cabinet or any othel
extraneous manner.