Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-07
OUTCOME OF PACT
TO DECIDE FUTURE
OF REPUBLIC HEAD
Assertions as to His Plans
After Retiring Are
Conflicting.
AYERS HE WILL RETIRE
TO PRIVATE LIFE
Contradic,s Statement That
He Will Select New Cab.
met if Reelected.
SEE CLOSE RATIFICATION
supporters of Treaty Say Passage
Certain with Small Ma
jority.
AYERS HE WILL RETIRE
TO PRIVATE LIFE
EE CLOSE p.T,E,c.r,ox
supporters of Treaty Say Pnannxc
Certain with Small Ma
Jority.
lBy Associated pressl

DUBLIN. Jan. 6-Eamon dc
valera today before tho Dali Eircann
resigned his post as president, of the
irish republic"
Later. however. he was under
stood to say that he would postponc
ms decision to lcsve Office pending
vote on the peace treaty Win
Great Britain II the vote was taken
WITHIN forty-cight hours. H..
coupled his resignation with the
statement that whatever happened
ne would retire 10 private life. but
almost In tho same breath he spoke
"f selecting "a new Cabinet il he was
reelected chief executive.
Relics ON Reflection.
From these conflicting assertions
the Inference was drawn by those
attending the session OF the Dali
that II the treaty was rejected De
Valera would remain ia office and
cndearor 10 negotiate n new treaty
with the British government on the
basis OF hfs alternative proposal. but
mat II tiin Dan accented tho treaty
hc would Jennltcly retire from pub
lie life.
The Dahl adjourned this evening at
o'clock TO meet again tomorrow
for further discussion OF the
treaty. Several OF tho members told
The Associated Press tonight that IL
vote on the treaty undoubtedly would
be taken before Z o'clock saturday
evening.
Supporters OF the treaty continued
to express confidence that It would
be ratified by small majority. but
ha NJ M tn ~
great anxiety over the outcome
With the Dali SO divided. fears are
entertained that acceptance of the
greatly VIII not necessarily solve
Ircland's troubles, and fears were
expressed In some quarters today
that there IS great danger OF in
tcrnecinc strife.
Makes Eloquent speech.
De Valera threatened TO resign
during a private session of the Dali
Eireann .his morning. at which an
eleventh hour attempt was being
made by the peace. committee TO ef-
fec, an aGrecmcn; between the on-
posing factions on the treaty. When
the Dail rcconvcncd in open session
In the afternoon Dc Valera carried
his threat into effect In the course
of an eloquent speech. during which
he was moved TO such depths OF
emotion that tears stood In his eyes
and his voice occasionally was
checked with sobs.
The members Of the Dali appeared
much affected by what seemed the
farewell of It's president. for whom.
whatever their view on the treaty
issue. they have shown during debate
they entertain the most profound re-
spect.
The announcement of the resigna-
ton of De Valera was received with
manifest irritation by leading sup
porters OF the peace treaty. who re-
garded 1t as a means Of sidetrack-
ing straight vote on the issue.
Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins
both urged the desirabillty of carry
ing out the agreement for direct
vote on the treaty, while Michael
Cosgrave pointed out that any con-
sideration of De Valcra's speech Of
resignation must be postponed until
the matter In hand was decided. He
carried the speaker with him In his
contention that the presidents resig-
nation, which might equally as we'll
have been rendered a month ago. was
not at the present time an urgent
matter within the meaning OF tho
standing orders of the Dali.
Wants Full Confidence.
: De Valera made 1t plain I'm his
speech of resignation that his object
was to enable the Dali to choose be-
tween what he called the representa-
tives of two fundamentally opposed
policies-Irish republicanism and
British citizenship. He said he would
not carry on without having full
confidence in his Cabinet. some of the
members OF which have divulged to
the press document that ho had
asked ehould te regarded as conf
Dental. If he should be reelected,
he said, he would choose his own
Cabinet and must have full and sole
command of all resources and ma
/. terials for the defense OF the repub-
lie.
Later on he complained of the in
y terference OF Michael Collins with
the army in. relation to the kidnapping
Of the correspondent of tho London
Times. This, he said. showed that
( undivided control OF the Republican
army was vital.
( In his speech announcing his res
isnation, De Valera described himself
as having been for four years suc-
cessful In reconciling and keapinr
! united the two opposite schools Of
Continued on Page {, Col. IL ?.