Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-09
IRISH TREATY

/
BY a vote of Ga to 81 the Dali Eireann at Dublin
has declared itself in favor of ratification OF the
treaty establishing the dominion form OF govern.
ment i'll Ireland. The majority of seven in favor OF
ratification is greater than has generally been ex
|pected since the debate got under way, the general
expectation being that the majority would not cx-
coed two or three, while some observers have ex-
pressed the belief that there would be a small ,ad-|
verse majority.
If the vote taken, even with the majority actual
Fly recorded for the treaty, represented at all accur~
ately the sentiment of the people of southern Ire
land, the outlook, would be anything but hopeful. 1t
would mean that the population is almost divided
between those who are fatty opposed to the treaty,
to that of federation of a distasteful plan
which is regarded as merely as little better than
nothing at all. Any government organized under
those circumstances would from the very outset be
confronted by conditions menacing it's existence.
Fortunately for Ireland, this is not the case.
The record of the past few weeks has shown that
there is no approximately equal division of the popu-
lation on this subject. With full freedom of express
sion everywhere, popular sentiment has expressed
itself in but one direction, namely, in favor of rati-.
%hcation. Unquestionably there are throughout the
country many individuals who are opposed to ac-
|%ceptance. But it is inconceivable that when the OPP
PIGMENTS of the treaty in the assembly were making
the strenuous fight which they have made, they
would not have welcomed all the support that could
be given them in the form of popular resolutions
anu IlIAOAA ONSA II NOllSlACldUlCU ONy
of. opposition throughout the country it would have
found expression. 1t has not been expressed. On
the other hand, resolutions and petitions by the
score have, come in from all sections, all of them
asking that the treaty be ratified Even De Valera
has admitted publicly that the country was against
him in his opposition, but he maintained that the
country would change its mind under proper leader
ship. Upon that Ainsy reed has the opposition
leaned. After all that the people of Ireland have suf-
fered, they were asked to reject the means of settle
nent and hold everything in allegiance until a fresh
agitation had reconciled them to a new war aud a
new era of anarchy.
The vote of the Dali does not actually accom-
Iplish formal acceptance of the proposed form of gov
eminent. That act remains to be performed, and in
connection with it complications may arise The
terms of the treaty require its acceptance, not by the
Dali, of which the imperial government has no of
fetal knowledge, but by the parliament elected at
the same time that the Ulster election took place,
That body. whose members are almost Identical
with the members OF the Dali, has never met. Pre-
sumabiy it will meet for the purposc>of %ratifying the
treaty, and will then pass out of existence.
Already there has been discovered an obstacle
in the oath required of members of parliament. The
oath to be required OF members of the new dominion
government has been-agreed on and is included in
the treaty. But that form does not apply until the
Itreaty takes effect, and the only body competent to
accept the treaty is a body whose members, under
the law, must take the customary oath before they
can act. q
That feature may be the subject of protracted
and acrimonious debate. But when 50 many greater
obstacles have been surnounted or brushed aside, it
bers of a body which is to pass out of existence I'M
mediately after the performance of its only act.will
be permitted to stand very long between a popula.
ton of three million people and the realization OF
plans for orderly government, administered by and
responsible to themselves.