Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-20

Every seat in the han was taken when the speaker, Prof John Magneill, called the meeting to order. Adoption of the treaty was moved by Arthur Griffith, for eign minister in the Dail cabinet ana signer of the London agreement. Immediately after the meeting began arguments arose as to whether the docu- ment introduced by Eamonn De Valera
 at the private meeting of the Dail last
 week should be introduced at the public | session. It transpired that the document | in question was an alternative peact | agreement drawn up by De Valera. The Dali adjourned at l o'clock until 3.50 p. m. There was every indication that the l speeches would continue the rest of the day.
 Michael Cflins, longtime leader of
 the republican army. made the principal | argument of the afternoon for the treaty
 he signed in London. Arthur Griffith,
 who with him Is making a determined fight for ratification. presented his argu-
 ment iron moving adoption of the treaty
 at the morning session, declaring it safe
 guarded all the interests of Ireland. Ea monn De Valera, the republican presi
 dent. fighting for rejectisn, denounced the
 treaty as "sJbversion of the republic
 Collins Was Not Blufred
 This treaty" declared Collins khis afternoon in denying charges that he had
 been bluffed into signing the document
 "was not signed under the personal in
 inhalation of any delegate" The pec']le, he
 said. did not understand the immense
 p-wers the treaty had given the Irish
 people Irish aspirations were satisfied
 with security and freedom, and the re noval of the British army was proof that
 the national principles had been establish ed he argued.
 MT Collins argument that the corsti- , tutional status of Ireland under the agreement was exactly-the same as that Of Canada and South Africa and that Ire , Ind had TO less a right than Canada t. ? send an ambassador to the United States was greeted with cheers. 7 As to the demand. for recognition of the republic by Great Britain, the minister r of finance declared that if all concerned had taken a stand for recognition Of the
 republican as a prelude to the conference D in London the members of the Dali s should have said so in advance, "and , there would have been no conference :" Speaking of the economic penetration Of Ireland by England, MT. Collins said That is a thing we must stop il
 Gaelic civilization is to survive-and that is what the treaty stops" n Collins "one of Highest" De Valera Say [ ! | He would not. he said. refer to the doc - ument Mir. De Valera had presented d s an alternative proposal, as he was no r a man 10 take advantage of anybody - as the president would agree Presiden n De Valera interrupted to remark: 'HY o stand with the highest"
 MT CoGins said he stood by the deci
 sion of the Dali not 10 coerce north ,- eastern Ireland. and that in framing tn i, treaty he had desired above all to ensur II the good will of Ulster and bring 1t int ' the Irish parliament
 This may be the last time I will hav
 the chance to address the Dail," remar rk . ed Collins at one point in his remarks. '5 As for his own part in the negotiations
 he said he had known that as a repre- Il sentative of the fighting forces in Ire - land his country would be offered bette "a terms if he went to London than if h ~ were not there. +o Mir. Collins concluded with a plea fo
 clean-cut decision on the Issue, beg ,o ginE the Dali not to shift the respons .r bAity
 ,d Childers Argued Against ,n Erszine Childers, secretary of the de it egation to London. who has been warn h. ly seconding EaInonn De Valera in h
 opposition to the treaty argued again: w is ratification. The members appeare Id 10 pay close attention to the argume1
 he advanced that the constitution h. Ireland. as that of Canada, dd ended UT he on the action of the British parliamen IT, and that "her freedom must be derive he from an act of the British government. t. Why Barton Signed Treaty d Robert c. Barton took the floor to e, |. plain why he signed the treaty. h 1rtc uofd ta '0 Duffy were against signing, but when l
 realized that war would result if he d ,s not sign he decided to choose "the less .9. of two outrages."
 gh CabIegrams From America n- Tn the course of his speech. MT. Go is lins, referring to cablegrams he had r in ceived from America, said: yd What I am going to say wiM nal
 me unpopular in America for the rest sv my life. l am going to hide nothing oh think for the sake of American popula g- ity."
 he 'I received a cabiegram from S. li- Francisco saying:
 ie- Stand fast. We will send you A m ng ion dollars a month
 sh My reply to this was to send a ii: sh a million and send thousand men ful es. equipped.
 re- 'T recelced another -cab1egram from 'ra branch of the American Association f on Recognition of the Irish Republic, req oe- ing:
 gh !" Don't weaken now; stand with nd Valera
 Well. let that branch come over a To- stand with both of us" 0aughter.) Defense of the Treaty oit Mfr Collins, at the outset of his ( he fence of the treaty, reviewed ever he that took place in the last Dali cabir nd meeting before the Irish plenfoctentiar in returned to London. He said they | Ice that meeting with decisions, or impr' in- sions, which they did their best to car yht out The issue wac limited to the f .es. lowing Tuesday by arrangements tf ein had been made with Premier Sir Jan ent Craig of Ulster and declared 1t must ras obvious that there was no further tt es- for referring these lote developments bs his to the home government ms. He declared his signature to the do< lad
 ing (continued on Page Three, Col. Fol
 HARTFnRn MAN nTEa