New-York tribune., 1922-01-10
De Valera Is
Beaten; Dali
Lacks Leader

convincing. being compelled to admit
ITS truth AS regards some departments
( Of the government.
Dc Valera ahstaincd from voting
when the motion was put. otherwise
the division would have been one short
of tie Robert Barton one of the
peace delegates who voted for the
treaty, stood by De Valera. while the
other treaty supporters nbstained.
De Vaera's opponents, many of
whom have been closely associated with
him for years and have high regard
Tor his courage. sincerity and ability.
seemed to feel deeply the fact that
they were lined up against him. To-
night some Of them were saying that
trey Will win him over to their side
before many months, but no outsidc
observer can see anything else than
political chaos for long time to come.
II is possible De Valera will lead the
minority in the next assembly, and in
SUCH capacity he would be power
1us figure. for parliamentary skill is
woefully lacking in the majority. a
laet which was clearly apparent time
after time to-day.
Blunder Costly to Dc Valera
The De Valera forces. however. made
a tactical blunder by refusing to agree
istry. If they had there is no question
that De Valera would have had a hand
some majority and he would have re-
tanned control Of The Irish Republican
army and the Republican finances,
Now he and his followers have lost
control of all the machinery Of govern
ment and will be Handicapped even in
'he next election, which Griffith SAID
would be called in due course.
q, n
popular man. in Ireland. but he Mas
been practically a dictator for SO long.
that there is grave doubt whether ne
could take subordinate position in
any government
ne members elected to the Southern
Parliament will be called into confer
encc before the weekend. accordino to
present plans, and then the treaty will
AGAIN be submitted for ratification. X
should 80 through this assembly with
cut prolonged discussion and bv a
Saturday.
Collins Assails Nomination
In announcing his resignation from,
,nc presidency OF the republic and the
!eadershlp of the Dali, de Valera said
lhat the vote in 1avor Of the treaty
tended to subvert the independcnce ~
the suggestion that committee com
posed, if possible, of members Of both
sides be appointed to carry on the
work OF taking over ireland from the
English government.
Mrs. Tom Clarke then made a formal
motion for De Valera's recollection and
Liam Mellowes seconded it. declaring
that De Valera stood as the symbol Of
the ,republic. After al Independent
member had protested against this
sudden maneuver Collins said
1T is only fair TO say We anticipated
it. If we hadn't we would have been
children. If you re-eiect the president
| have no objection but every one will
regard us as laughing stock The peo-
PIE will come in and turn us out"
Mary MacSwiney made d long speech
supporting De Valera. declaring I'VE
have got to carry on as . republic
until the government is dscstabl shed
and the vote last Saturday night did
not disestabiish us
Heated Exchanges in Debate
Then some members began an at
tempt 10 smoke out De Valera,
George s.Gavan Duffy demanding
+ that the president tell exactly
what policy he would follow if he
were reelected and another asking who
Valera intimated that he would have
only those who opposed the treaty in
his cabinet and that he would go before
the country as soon IS the constitu-
tion Of the Irish Free State was drawn
up. Some Of the ma ioritY pointed out
in response to this that De Naleras
government then would be the most
autocratic in the world, as it would
consist OF d cabinet no member Of
which belonged 10 the majority.
De Valera writhed and twisted under
these attacks, frequently lnterruptinC
though his opponents were most care
full to absolve him from trickery
lsvelling their criticism at some Of his
. playing petty party politics and at
tempting to hout the will of the ma
jority not only of the Dali but OF Ire
land. At some stages of the debate the
exchanges were decidedly warm.
Invites Opposition CANDIDATE
Do Na,era and his ass sociates in the
republican rxnAe maintained that the
tre;4ty could not be considered ratified
Until IL al been accepted BY south
era Irish Parliament. Under the crit
icism Of William Cosgrove, De Valera
! said:
i seek 10 power IN the nation.
have resigned. Let the opposition put
forward Z candidate.'
Cosgrcvc charged the minority with
attempting to take advantage of De
Nalera's popularity to defy the people,
while anotner speaker declared that ii
the policy were persisted in it meant "A
reversal Of the decision ratifying the
treaty.
SO the debate continued for nearly
three hours before the luncheon adj
lournment. 1t was difficult TO say which
side labored under the greater embar-
rassment--De Valera's. because Of his
autocratic methods Of procedure, or
Griffith's, because of De Nalera's great
personal Popularity. The bitterness
was so intense and the jockeying so
keen that there was fight over the
question Of adjournment, though it
was long past the usual hour
There is no doubt that De Valera
pslsonaly wants to retire to private
iIfe, but his supporters know that If
he does their fight for the republic win
lose its ablest leader. Even should he
retire, however, that fight is bound to
make Irish politics exciting for a lon,-
period to come. "s