Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-15
Rejection of the Treaty.

Dublin. Doc. 1f.-tRy The A. P)- THc question or ratification O rre.cc ion of tte agreement arrived st in loud2n t-tresn tne representatives of tEe Bri ..1 Government 7nd The uleuipo tntiaties ct tht ual Elararu 10 sstt'e tn Iisclr. ur'ch sa- c-utu-ies has eNi7'ei hetwe, C--lt rri,air and Ireland was de'ate --s-~ st z pa-,lc meeting of the Dai. -r.t .afe- at -vvo secret sessions An H. her secret ressian ls 70 be held toner Tow.
 50 ihe public meeting today Eamonn Do Valera. the president. and Arthur Gri nrh. Ni-raei Collins and other Dail dep rfirs expressed their views as 10 whethor the Irish delegation 10 London had eN- ees-ieI irs powers in sieuing the agree mont wIsh ihe British canluet for set fa11rrt cf the Irish ITO lem.
 De Valera and the members ot the del s=sr-a were sharply divided on the ques- f.nr at lesue. De Valera contend'd that frr f-rafy should rot have been siGne1 without fs having first hen referred 10 DrHtln ra--iament. Delegates Griffith and Collins i1sisiei that they and heir col fra-urs had fhe power invested iu tscm to s.rn an agreement. but not tie aut5or1u fn c-nc'ude i- MT Griffith asserted that m. rcrr. serfstlves of the Dsi Eroann and 1f The British cabinet in th s respect were i- Identical -oritiorS. aS e7ch was ahr-ated co refer the treaty 10 their Frerrfr larisiafur for rt;idca ion.
 rofh Mr Collins an MT. 'iriffNh cur Ing thr discuss on rs sorted statement of rreSde-t De v7-era that the delegation f- London had not oheyed the insfruc- lions cs rhA Dttiiu cabinet.
 70 have bc~u called a traitor" ex- ets fr1ed 1t- Collins. at one point, let the Irish nro,'- decide whether I am or no.
 mo re-ulato- If the day over the rosslhiii-v of a serious rift in tte two facrf ne centcrel in the secret sessions fr'f 7f-cr The o1e1 meeting. The first of fh@ secret conferercaS lasted from rno o'clock in tho afternoon until two 0'clcc'L Trsn after a long rect the deputies TO aes-,hfef st 49o o'c'rcl and the meet tr- continued. until a lste hour this ev- erInr
 mo -,re.i-- ot the members of th r7-ua-e7t hehi-d c'os-d doors was con fined 70 animated discussion Of the ques t.0r ar 70 how far tho Pisnipotentiari-i London were justified ny their instruc f0-s Tn n0erin- a treaty with Gr0a Britain lr tha early hours of Tuosda, r~o~uir- week a-o. without having r. rr-N-- he'd -rr f~s1f~ t1 President De Va ie-a and hls cabinet.
 MT GriTitr. ru.ei-. and Mir. Collins with some hrz-. l n'he rubllc session TO rented any suggestions that the- ha' fr faf 'o carry out their instructions o frsf they had exceeded them IT. any de gree 1f t-ok "a longer time than ha Nsrn anticipated to clear I'D the point f- di~ufs. and as Mir Dc Valera ha' ~r-fe -iain his d-ss7 tlsf7ctian of th -ethrd adoured tv the potrntiar rie n secret de,,ate was decided uron
 T-e or'nion among inc member of th Tan fo1ichf on ths question of acc sEt a-re CT rejection sesr-ed move evenly di vffed than had been expected. All a7 rarrnfiv were in agreement that ultimat rrz7o1s sHilitv wo-id rest with tha coun fry It is considered possible that th --eThers of the Dsr after having ev r-rsred their individual ci-inious vii -rf-- final decision of the question 70 th electors among whom all sndica tons seer t, rolrt there is a large majority in favo cf tho treaty.
 Except for @ Stnn Feln flag drape with crepe and hung from a telephon role. the only evidence of prooa nd srrinsf ratification os the treaty outsi1 University College. where tho sessions q t-~ Ian were held. were members of th cow-un st parry n Ireland, who endeav or~d Co disfrihute pamphlets urging re fert'cn of the treaty Mernhers Of th Trish rdnuhiican army dispersed the com munis,s and coufscated their literature.