New-York tribune., 1922-02-23
Dc\alera and Collins Heal
Breach by Compromise;
Referendum to Decide
Free State Or Republic
Sinn Fcin Unitcs
And Dodges Treaty
Civil War Is Aver,ed. but
Chances Of Peace With
Britain Are Not ROSY
By Arthur S. Draper
Special Cable 10 Tse 7.ib...

~ oA'-N, feO' IL NlNH rem ma
tional convention at the Mansion House
to-day sidcstepped a vote for or against
tho Anglo-lrish treaty and adopted
unanimously instead compromise
peace agreement between republicans
and Free Statcrs to keep the Sim Fem
party intact. 1t provides that throc
months from date the treaty question
shall come before The Irish people at
the polls and they shall choose there
between the constitutions of the Free
State and the republic that will be
submitted side BY side.
This handling Of the treaty puts
Ireland back to where she was before
the Dali Eircann ratified the peace
treaty. The agreement to-day tied the
Free State Cabinet, headed by Michael
Collins, to a promise not to call e gen
ersl election inside Of three months
and virtually committed all the Free
Statcrs to join the republicans TO pre-
vent any attempt by Great Britain TO
torce an election sooner. lteanwhile,
it was agreed, the Dali Eireann will
WI SiA4Ut w meet AcGuldiIN ana IuLC-
ton in all its departments, although i
was agreed that an adverse vote in
that body would not entail the resigna-
tlon OF the Free State provisional
Cabinet
Forced to Compromise
Last night an agreement between the
Republicans and Free Staters seemed
very remote, as neither side gave any
indication of readiness to meet the
other half way. But apparently over
their position could not be maintained
without compromise.
Before / o'clock this morning 5000
Sim Feiners had crowded into the
meeting hall, and for a full hour sat o4
stood quietly and patiently, with never
catcau or a cheer. Then one GROUP
started g soldier song in which all
Joined. There followed solos and hu-
morous recitations and other general
songs-all pleasant contrast to yes
terday's violent debate and BITTERNESS.
The personality of the delegates, their
songs and wit, quite oycrshadoved the
political breach between them.
Two hours after the scheduled time
Of meeting in walked Eamon de Valera,
leader Of the republicans, followed by
Arthur Griffith, for the Free Staters.
Cheers greeted them. After a brio
apology for the delay. De Valera an
nounced that an agreement had been
reached and he read its terms. cxplain-
ing that both sides had agreed not to
make speeches about it, For the first
time at Sim lein meeting in the
last three months everybody checred
Agreement Uniting Party
The agreement follows:
In order to avoid division in the
Sim Fem organization, to avert the
danger TO the country Of an immediate
election and to give the plenipoten-
tiaries an opportunity to draw W a
constitution, it is agreed that;
Il. The Ard Fheis (Sinn Fein assem-
bly) shall adjourn for three months.
"2. The officer board Con which both
sides are represented eQually) shall act
in place Of the standing committee
Tin which De Valera had six followers
to Grifith's cighteen). The Dali Fire
ann shall meet regularly and function
IN all its departments as it did before
the signing Of the treaty. No vote in
the Dali Eireann shall be regarded as &
party vote and require the resignation
Of the President and his Cabinet. No
pariiam entary election shall be held in
O"e HeAt tnree mOnlA5, ana Nnen one IS
held the constitution of the Free State,
AS well as the constitution of the re-
public, shall be submitted simultanc-
ously to the electorate"
The strengthening of De Valera 8
power through the officer board and
tho decision to keep the Dali Eircann
alive were both hard blows to the pro-
visional cabinet.
Griffith elaborated the significance Of
the last sentence of the agreement
later in answering question, giving
his word that he would not agree to
any election being forced on Ireland
by the British government in the en-
suing three months.
Delegates Wildly Excited
Wild excitement followed the an
nouncement Of this agreement with
De Valera trying to restore order, but
smiling his own delight and satisfac-
tion. A majority wanted to approve
the agreement Immediately, but some
OF the delegates had questions to ask.
Both De Valera and Griffith an
nounced that their followers had q
perfect right under the agreement to
carry on election propaganda. Collins
insisted that the agreement would
make for the unity Of all Ireland, inti-
CONTINUED on Ssss four)