The New York herald., 1922-06-01
Continued from First Page.

use as an opportunity for giving theil
decision upon the generous and sincere
OFFER of dominion home rule embodied
in the treaty with this country.
The Irish people would then be fires
to accept or reject the offer with theii
eyes open. If the (offer were rejected
and they returned parliament pledged
to set up a republic an issue would i'm
mediately be raised comparable to that
Which arose In America in the civil war
between the States of the American
! Union and the seeding Confederate
States, but the Government were assur-
ed on every hand that there was no
such chance and that indeed there was
no chance at all.
From every source of Irish informa
ton came the same tale that the Irish
people. if allowed freely to express their
wishes and convictions, would by an
overwhelming majority accept in good
faith and good will the great treaty
reconciliation which gave Ireland her
own freedom, her place in the world and
the hope of final unity in Ireland
De Valera Jntervenes.
80 sure were the De Valera sup
porters of the good will of the Irish peo-
pie that they openly declared their in
tention OF forbidding free discussion by
terrorism and violence. Until ten days
ago the leaders of the Provisional Gov
ernment with the united support Of pub
| lie opinion and with increasing adher-
ence to their own side of men who hith-
erto had been extreme Republicans ap-
peared resolved to march forward to free
ireland and do their best to put down,
IL necessary by force of arms. the per-
sons who tried to prevent them.
1T was in thfe cpirit fbat ArfI,,,r
Griffith on the 18th told the Republicans
IL the Dali that in their violent courses
they did not represent per cent. of the
people OF Ireland and that the course
they were pursuing placed them on a
l''vel with the worst traitors In Irish his
tory--namely those who by their ac-
tions were rendering the return of Eng
lish troops inevitable.
The very next day, to the astonish-
ment of every one, to the dismay of
many supporters of the Provisional Gov
ernment. to the JOY of every enemy of
the republican anti-treaty men, whom
signed between Collins and De Valera.
This pact comprised an agreement with
the republican anti-treaty men, who
Griffith the day before had declared
did not represent per cent. of the
Irish people, that they would have
fifty-seven seats in the new Parliament
as against sxtyfour supporters of the
treaty as far as the say of the Pro-
visional Government was concerned. 1t
could not be opposed by the Provisional
Government to the extent of fifty-seven
seats. In other words. the existing bai-
ance on the question of accepting or
rejecting the treaty should not be dis
turbed by any contest between men,
bers of the Sim Fein party
The second point in the pact pre-
scribed that after this election or So
called election a coalition government
should be formed. (Kenworthy shouted,
Hear. Hear") Let us take this oppor-
tunity of saying that the issues with
which we have to deal are too tragic for
the introduction of this kind of cheap
sneeas for which there is plenty Of scope
| on other occasions
THE agreement prescribed i'm the sec
ond place that after the election there
should be a coalition government formed
consisting of five pro-treaty Ministers
and four anti-treaty Ministers. with the
President of the Assembly and the Min
lister at the head of the army additional.
1t was added that every interest in Ire
land would be free to proceed to the
polls and challenge the candidates of the
National Sim Fein panel.
THE consequences of this agreement
were very serious. IL seems probable
as far as we can judge that the Irish
people won't be able to give free ex-
preston to their views. 1t is almost
certain that they will be unable to say
in any way that is Ineligible whether
they accept or reject the treaty offered
by the British.
I'VE were content with the provisions
in Article II OF the treaty that members
of the Government of this interim period
declare their adherence to the treaty
which hitherto had been signed by menu
bers of the provisional Government.
IF De Valera and his anti-treaty
men are willing to sign the declaration
in a bona fide manner. we have no
ground for complaint upon that score.
But il they become members of the
Government without signing the declar-
alton, the treaty is broken by that very
fact, and at that very moment the i'm
perial Government resumes such liberty
OF action. whether in regard to the
resumption of powers which have been
transferred. or the reoccupation. as we
may think appropriate or proportional
to the gravity of the breach"
''I must make 1t clear to the House
tndt We snail not III any CiFcufnstdHCeS
agree to deviate from the treaty, either
in the strict letter or the honest spirit"
Mr.. Churchill went on. lie examined the
reasons which led or forced the Pro-
visional Government into compact with
those opposed to the treaty. Its rep
resentatives had declared that condi-
tions in southern Ireland were degener-
ating so rapidly that IL had not the
power for holding a free and vigorously
contested election. that fighting would
result. that the ballot boxes would be
destroyed and ballot papers burned.
that the persons OF the candidates would
election, and that a coherent expression
of the national will would not result
from an election held under these
circumstances.
III that is true 1t is a very terrible
reflection upon the Irish people and
upon their capacity 10 use democratic
institutions. for which they have SO
long and loftily proclaimed their desire.
While pressing the British Government
continuously to withdraw its Forces
from the country in order 10 make the
Irish people see they were acting in
strict bona fide. the Provisional Gov
ernment has not been able for the last
six months to organize an efficient po-
lice force capable OF maintaining the
treaty position.
"There is second reason which
actuated the Provisional Government.
which should certainly carry all due
weight with the House. The progress OF
I