The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-11
IRISH AFFAIRS
GROW MORE
CONFUSED
President De Valera
Resigns Office and
Then Reconsiders
Action P e n d j n g
Vote On P e a C e
Treaty

ciated Press) .-Eamon de Valera
today. before the Dahl Eireann
resigned his post as president OF
the Irish Republic.
Later, however. he was under
stood to say that he would post
pone his decision to leave office
pending vote on the peace treaty
with Great Britain if the vote was
taken within 4S hours. He coupled
his resignation with the statement
that whatever happened he would
retire to private life. but almost in
the same breath he sopke Of Sc
lecting a new cabinet if he was re-
elected chief executive.
From these conflicting assertions
the inferencew as drawn by those
the inference was drawn by those
that if the treaty was rejected dc
Valera would remain in office and
endeavor to negotiate new
treaty with the British govern
ment on the basis OF his alternative
proposal. but that If the dali ac-
cepted the treaty. he would def
nitely retire from public life.
The dali adjourned this evening
al { o'clock to meet again tomor-
row for a further discussion Of the
treaty. Several Of the members
told the Associated Press tonight
that a vote on the treaty undoubt-
edly would be taken before seven
O'Clock Saturday evening.
Supporters of the treaty con-
tinued to express confidence tha,
it would be ratified by a small
majority. but the people OF Dublin
are showing great anxiety over the
outcome. With the dali so divided
fears ere entertained that accept
ance Of the treaty will not neces-
sarily solve Ireland's troubles, and
fears were expressed in some
quarters today that there is greal
danger of internecine. strife.
Mr.. de Valera threatened to re-
sign during a private session Of the
dahl this morning at which ar
eleventh hour attempt was being
made by the peace committee tC
effect an agreement between the
opposing factions. When the dia.
reconvened in open session this af-
ternoon. Mr.. de Valera carried his
threat into execution in the course
of a speech during which he was
moved to such depths of emotion
that tears stood in his eyes and his
voice occasionally was choksd with
sobS
The members Of the dali appear
ed much affected by what seemed
the farewell of its president. The
president waxed eloquent when he
referred to having been reared in
laborer's cottage in County Linn
erick and IN his uncompromisins
declaration for Ireland's separate
nationality. He said that he was
not now or ever technically Brit
ish subject. and that he would die
without becoming one. Although
he was not a member Of the Irish
Republican brotherhood, he said
he hoped when he died he would
have q Fenian grave.
The protests against divertine
the Dali Eireann from the main
point in dispute before it, namely
the ratification or rejection Of the
treaty, revealed the leaders on both
sides OF the chamber as equally
anxious for speedy vote and
eventually Mr. de Valera declared
that if ballot was taken within
As hours he would be quite salts
fled. Meanwhile, although he did
not say so expressly. it was under
stood that his resignation would
be in allegiance.
Mr.. de Valera was elected presi-
dent at the first Sim Fein cOnven-
ton held in 1917, Arthur Griffith
chairman OF the Sim Fein organ
ization. standing aside in his favor
Daring his absence in the United
States Mr.. de Valera appointed Mr.
Griffith acting president.
Mr.. de Nalera's disappearance
from the presidency would remove
what he described in his speech TO-
day as the connecting link betweer
the Cathal Brugha (Charles bur
scSS) section of the Sim Fein and
Mr.. Griffith. Both men have strong
followinSS throughout the country
1t would leave the extreme section
favorable 10 the treaty in direcl
conflict