New-York tribune., 1922-05-18
Proposes Vote
OF People to
End Dali Split
Griffith Challenges Irish Re-
publicans With Motion
for General Election To
BE Held ON June 10
Peace Agreement Fails
Free Statcrs Say Country Fa-
vors Pact With England
and Insist OH E 10 4 Ratio

From The Tribunc's Enrorcon Buronu
Copyright. 1922 New York 'vribunc Inc.
LONDON, May 17.-~An impasse be-
tween the Irish republicans and Free
Statcrs in the Dali Eireann's debate to-
day on the failure Of the peace com
mission to arrange an under standing
led Arthur Griffith, PRESIDENT to chal
lenge the republicans to put the issue
up to the people. He laid on the table,
for consideration tomorrow, pro-
posal that a general election be held
June 16
Under the terms of this motion. can
didacies would have to be announced
by June 6. The election would be linn
tied to the twenty six southern coun-
ties. Ulster not to be included.
The Dali presidents move came
after the report of the peace comms-
sion had shown that here was no nope
Of agreement between the factions so
long as the republicans maintain their
present attitude. AS reported ycstcr
day in these dispatches, the chief issue
was whether the proportion of repub
Leans and Free Staters in the next
parliament should be the same as in
the nresent Dali or in the ratio Of to
4, favoring the Free Statcrs.
country was overwhelmingly in favor
Of the treaty with England and that
the new Dali should indicate this fact
by giving the pro-treaty forces a larger
majority than they have now. When
Liam Mellowes, a spokesman for the
rebels in the Irish army, declared in a
defiant speech that the Republicans
would accept nothing less than the
present proportions, Griffith answered
with a challenge to take the issue to
the polls.
Eamon dc Valera said that he would
cooperate in a coalition government
and that other strong leaders could be
induced to cooperate if the Republi-
cans were not asked to sacrifice any of
their principles, but Griffith only re-
tortcd:
"I.ct the question be decided in
constitutional way by reference to the
rcOple."
There will be a lively debate to-
morrow on Grif1ith's motion. This proof
that the Free Statcrs are determined to
hold the election regardless Of Rcpub-
lean tactics it is believed, may cause
ihe anti-treaty forces to shift their
gtound as only thus could a clash be
avoided.
The principal details of a peace un-
derstanding were virtually agreed upon
before the peace commission broke on
the proportion question. 1t was agreed
that arrangements for the election
should be fixed by the Ard Fheis, or
Slnn Fein convention, next week and
after the election a coalition govern
ment should be formed with six pro-
treaty and four republican members.
BELFAST, May 17-There were
further serious outbreaks of shooting
to-day in Belfast. The military
charged the rioters at ono point and a
nan named Dudgeon, who failed to halt
when challenged, was fired upon and
KILLED. One soldier was wounded.
On renewed firing this evening a
woman was shot dead and another
wounded.
LONDON, May 17.-Five Sim Fcin
eunmen arc reported to have been
killed and a considerable number
wounded during a fight in the Marrow
bone district of B(fast this evening
says dispatch to The Daily Mail"
The dispatch describes the firing as
the most sever for months 1t was a
pitched battle between police and
soldiers against Sim Fein gunmcn and
lasted for several hours Machine
guns, rifles, revolvers and grcnades
were used.
According to the Press Association
omcIals IN Belfast report only one man
dead and five wounded.