The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-11
Irish Peace Treaty at Last Ratified
{Contiuued from page y

i
Republican army is tonight the
subject of anxious speculation as
Charles Burgess, who strongly op-
posed the treaty. is the minister OF
defense. So far as the public IS
concerned, Dublin seems delighted
over ratification.
Arthur Griffith and his col
leagues on emerging from the par
lament We're wildly cheered and
ithe city tonight is in jubilant spirits.
On the announcement Of the hg-
ures. De Valera rose and declared
that the Irish people had estab-
lished a republic, and until the
Irish people in regular manner
disestablished the republic it con-
stitutionally went on. This would
be a sovereign body in the nation
to which the nation looked for su-
preme government. 1t was the ex-
ecutive until the people disestab-
lished it.
Nobody was disposed to chal-
Ienge this proposition, for the gen
eral opinion all along had been that
during transition period Ireland
must keep her representative as
senbly until the treaty was con-
verted into an act of parliament
and the Irish would have an op-
,portunity to erect legislature OF
the free state to replace the Dali;
Michael Collins in quiet tones fol-
lowed De Valera. He said he did
not regard the result in any spirit
of triumph. He claimed that the
men representing the Dali who
would be responsible for taking
over from the British government
control Of the Irish administration
should get fair chance. In every
country what mattered most was
public order and he appealed to
the other side to appoint a joint
committee of both sides to carry on
the government. (This was greeted
with cheers.
Mr.. Collins declared that De Va
lera held the same place in his
hcart as ever.
Then followed a violent speech
by Mary MacSwiney denouncing
the result as worse than the be-
trayal, of Ireland in the days of
Castlereagh.
Discount Castlereagh Marquis of
Londonderry, who as chief secre-
tary for Ireland in 1898 was instru-
mental in carrying the union in
1900.
Mr. Dc Valera rose again, sup
posedly in reply to Mr.. Collins
overture. However, he took no no
.tice of it. and merely appealed to
all of his own supporters in the
Dali to meet him at the. Mansion
House tomorrow afternoon. This
evidently hurt Mr.. Collins very
much, but he quietly said:
IF the visible. presence of N.Y.
self and eolleages is SO disraste-
zful, there might at any rate be
some accommodation between the
parties for the purpose of public
order
Minister Burgess immediately
retorted: II wall take care that the
discipline of the army is preserved"
The assembly then adjourned to
meet at11 O'clock Monday morn
ing. No. agenda. for that session
is indicated, and the only notice
Of a motion is one by the speaker,
Professor MacNeill. affirming in
general terms Ire1and's independ-
ence and sovereign status, for
which all sections Of the dali might
unanimously vote.
The public is completely be-
wildered regarding de valera's in
tention.
Ulster is included within the
scope Of the treaty, but provision is
made for her to declare herself out
within one month after an act Of
the British parliament ratifying
the treaty, ana to continue under
the present regime, as provided in
the government of Ireland act in
1920. In that event, however,
boundary commission is 70 be nam
ed 10 determine the boundary be-
tween NortherD Ireland and the
rest of Ireland.
The Irish Free State will assume
what may be decided by agreement
or arbitration as a fair and equi-,
table proportion of the public debt
OF the United Kingdom, and is to
afford harbor facilities to British
naval forces under terms to be
fixed in a convention between the
two governments.
Safeguards are provided for
freedom Of religion and education
within both the Irish Free State
and Northern Ireland.
Formal ratification of the pact
on the part Of Ireland, as provided
by he traaty. shall be at a meet
ing, summoned for the purpose, Of
the members elected under the
government Of Ireland Act to sit
in the house Of commonsIof South
ern Ireland. These members, with
a few exceptions, are the same as
these of the Dali Eireann.
The British Parliament approx
ed Of the treaty last December 16
by adopting the reply to the speech
from thes throne requesting such
approval. Various formalities of
formal ratification, however, still
remain to be complied with in CT
der to conform to the terms OF the
document.