Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-31
Churchill Bans
Irish Republic
Continued from Page One



letter or the honest spirit Of the docu.
mcnt, Mr.. Churchill declared.
Scores Election Plans
1T is almost certain" Mr.. Churchill
went on. that the Irish people will
not be able to say in an ineligible way
whether they accept or reject the treaty
offered by Great Britain. 4 certain
number of labor or independent candi-
dates may doubtless secure election. but
Il is difficult to see how the Parliament
resulting from the election. and the
government to be based on that Par
lament after the election. can have
either representative or democratic
quality. or authority as it is usually
understood
In reply to question Mr.. Churchill
said the Free State government did not.
as was charged. issue leaflet urging
the Irish voters to support the treaty
candidates in the coming elections on
the ground that they could thus secure
a republic through the safe. short
road of the treatv.'
''The provision of the agreement that
four antitreaty men will bc included
in the Government after the election
strikes directly at the provisions of the
treaty" Mr.. Churchill said adding
that the British, in making the treaty.
did not demand that the members Of
the Parliament should take the oath
prescribed by the treaty for the Free
State Parliament when finally consti-
tutcd.
I'VE were content he said, with
the provision inserted in Article II of
the treaty that the members of the Gov.
ernmcnt should in this interim period
sign n declaration of adherence TO the
treaty, which heretofore has been sign
ed willingly by all the members Of the
Provisional Government.
Fears Breach Of Treaty
''If Mr.. dc Valera and his three anti. q.
treaty men, or whoever the ministers
are 70 be who are tC come into the Gov.
ernmcnt after the election. are willing
/" sign tho declaration in a bona fidp
manner We will have no grounds for
complaint. but If they become members
of the Government without signing that
declaration the treaty is broken By that
very fact.
Mr.. Churchill then made his declara .
t!on that in the event of the refusal OF
Mr. De Valera, or others made Minis
t"rS after the election. to sign the dec
laration, thus breaking the treaty, the
British Government liberty of action
would b" resumed in way appropriate
10 the gravity of the situation, as the
Government would not agree in any
circumstances 10 dcvinte from the treaty
either in the strict letter or the homes,
spirit
Il must now in fairness" continued
the Secretary, ''sct forth the reason:
which ! understand led or forced the
Provisional Government to enter this
compact. which is fundamentally Op.
posed 10 tho treaty.
"Thoy declared they had not tho
power 70 hold freely contested cleo
ton; that sporadic conflicts woulc
have resulted in many part.; that th'
hallo' boxes would have been burnet
and PERSONS and candidates intimidateC
or .r"vonted from takin. part in th'
election. and that no coherent express
sion Of the national will would have
rc,UI'od.
Reflection on Irish People
IT that is true" continued Mr.
tLIr"hill. "it IS very terrible rctiec
zion upou the Irish people and thei
raIaC!Iy 70 use tho democratic institu
lions ~ which they have 50 long ant
50 lOftily proclaimed their devotion. !
= also a reflection upon the Govern
mont, which. while urging us Cont!nu
uuslv 70 withdraw our forces IN or,le
H. make tho whole 0f tho Irish peOpl
sor that "" w"rc acting in strict goo
fu,h. has not been able in the Who'll
of tho sIx months thar has elapsed t
organizn IN efficient and adequate polio
force capable Of maintaining the treat
position.
"Tho second reason advanced wa
that the progress Of disorder, lawleSs
ness and social degeneration had bee
5" rapid and extensive in the twenty
six counties since the departure Of tn
British troops and TN" di-handing {
tho ro"aI Irish cOn>tabnlary that IN
provisional government could not pos
sibIy guarantee the ordinary sr"uritiC
Of life and property If these seCuritif
. were challenged by an active and VIC
lent republican minority.
"This minority, it was explained
constituted mainly n comparativel
small number Of armed men, with vio
lent methods and fanatiCal in temper, |
many cases disjntcrestpd or impersOn;
In motive. But behind these strength
rning. disgracing and multiplying thes
wore a large number Of common. sordi
rufiians and brigandS. raiding, mur
drring and pillaging for personal gai
or private revenge.
= Bandits Under Republic Glamour
These bandits pursued their dis
J interested course under the glamour
the republic and were intricably inter
mingled with the bona tide republica
J vlsonares. The provisional govern
ment declared they found themselv'
, unable to deal with these bandits viii
, at the same time they We're engage
. in an armed struggle with bona f'
republicans.
. They declared that the agrcemel
which they entered into with the n
S publicans would isolate the brigant
and enable them to be struck at al