New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-12-21
BITTER STRUGGLE
TO RATIFY PACT
IN Dali EIREANN
Although Majority Declare Treaty
is Not Altogether Satisfactory,
They Feel It Should Be Passed
INSIST LLOYD GEORGE
MADE THEM AGREE TO IT


Vas War. and Gave Them But
Three Hours To Make Their Final
Decision.
Dublin. Dec. 81 0By Associated
Press 1.-THE Dali Eircann today en-
tared the third day of its public dis
cussion of the Irish peace treaty with
The outcome of the vote on the ques-
ton Of ratification still In doubt.
Claims Of the opposing factions
ranged from a majority of two against
the treaty, to ten in its favor,
George Gavan Duffy's speech indi-
Gated that he assumed the treaty
would be ratified. He said it would
uG the duty of the trainers of the
Irish constitution to place the for
etgn king at a considerable distance
from the Irish people adding:
The king symbolzes in himself
the Just anger Of the Irish peope for
$50 years"
Members of the Dali, instead of
congregating in the lObbies before the
meeting this morning, went promptly
into the council room at the behest
o. the sergeant at arms, and the days
proceedings started only four minutes
after the hour set.
Demands Alternative
Duffy said the Dali must be given a
rational alternative to the treaty be-
fore rejecting it.
My heart is with those opposing it,
bat my reason is against them" he ex-
claimed.
The treaty he declared, must be
ratified in the interests of the people
OF Ireland.
Duffy said he made no apology for
signing the pact but felt that he was
bound to drive home to the minds of
the Irish people the circumstances
under which the signatures were ex-
torted.
Duffy contended that Ireland could
omit the kings head from the coins
Of the Irish free state and could
abolish the union jack and that in
framing their constitution the Irish
people should put the king into ex-
terror darkness" as far as possible.
Tells Of War Threat.
CURED in London on December 4 and
3 leading up to the reaching of the
agreement, the speaker said that
Premier Lloyd George had issued an
ultimatum requiring the signatures to
the treaty of all the delegates under
the threat of immediate war. They
believed that this time Mr., Lloyd
George was not bluffing. 1t was, as
the .premiers official organ declared
"a grim choice"
Dufffy read from this morning s
newspapers the semi-official denial
from London that the treaty had been
signed under duress.
lie said the complaint was not that
the alternative. to a treaty was war,
but that war was the alternative to
this particular treaty, and that the
Irish DELEGATES had been given three
hours to reach a decision, without ref
crence to the home government under
the penalty "of letting loose fresh
horrors of savages to trample, torture
and cruelty Ireland"
Recommends Reluctantly.
Mr.. Duffy said he recommended the
treoty reluctantly but sincerely be-
cause he saw no alternative. The
treaty was not utterly valueless, but
it was not payment in full. He added
that the treaty gave real power for
The first time and that Ireland would
be in a better position to retain that
power and resist aggression than~ever
before, even though the present treaty
inflicted an indignity upon Irishmer
by thrusting an English king upon
them.
While insisting upon ratification OF
the agreement Duffy reiterated the
declaration that Premier Lloyd
George had issued an ultimatum to
the Irish plenipotentaries requiring
them to sign the treaty under threat
of immediate hostilities
He termed it a "monstrous inquitv
that the delegates who had been in
vited under the premier's roof for the
discussion of a peaceful settlement
should have been given only three
hours to decide the question of sign
ing without the opportunity of con-
quilting Dublin.
He Was RlniTed.
Ea1non J. Duggan the last of the
Irish Observation-Disclosures to speak in the
debate denied that he had beer
'buffed" into signing the treaty. He
said he had signed 1t In calm seclh-
sion and with due consideration te
the country the living and the dead
He warmly urged ratification.
Duffy said he agreed with Lord
Grey that no peace with Ireland was
possible except on equal terms, but
before the treaty could be rejected
some possible alternative should be
produced, and he saw none.
Declaring his reason was against
those who opposed the treaty al
though his heart was with them, he
said q solid basis of principle was
found in the formula of government
bv the consent of the governed, and
that the people were entitled to have
the treaty ratified.
"The treaty should be ratified under
protest but ratify it you must" he
declared.
Deputy James !. Walsh who spoke
next. said the report printed in news,
papers here this morning that he had
asked members of the Dail not 10 de.
scribe MIR DC Valera as president
was unfounlcd. Speaker John Mac
N,ill confirmed the member,