New-York tribune., 1922-01-09
Plans to Garry on Fight
Considered by Slim Fcin
Chief and So Aids in
Dali at Il Secret Session
Met With Cries of
Up With Republic
Supporters Of Pact Meet
y, ith Leaders to Discuss
Provisional Government
BY Arthur S. Draper
Special Cable to TIE Tr.bn~e


DUBLIN, Jan. 8.-Less than
twcnty-four hours after the ratifi.
cation Of the Anglo-Irish treaty By
the Dali Ereann, Eamon de Valera
and fifty-six other "die-hards" held
a meeting today in the Mansion
House and laid plans for carrying
on the Irish Republic as an active
organization. Still showing signs Of
the strain under which he has lived
50 long, but undaunted in spirit, De
Valera told a delegation from Aus
tralia who went to see him that
"thc Irish people arc as much Re-
publican to-day as ever
independence the Goal
"a wonderful opportunity OF
securing a lasting peace between
two great peoples has been defin-
itely lost by the triumph of brute
force over reason" the Republican
leader continued, ''but l say the
heart of Ireland is absolutely true
to the ideal of complete indepen-
dcnce. Therefore, the fight is to go
on. SO far as human brains and
heart can achieve it, we are going
to fight for The Republic"
Any one who thought that the ten
minutes last night during which the
Dali registered its decision to ratify
the treaty brought to complete con-
ciu OF the age-ions struggle must have
been disiIlusioncd to-day. Crowds cut.
side the Mansion House cheered De
Valera riotiously and shoutedDwildly,
up with the Rcpublic."
Factionai Strife Continues
Here is the situation in Ireland to.
day:
The Dali Eircann is split almost ia
half.
The country is divided into t-ro fac.
tions, and even the Irish republican
army is badly disrupted
Everything depends on the policy of
the republicans. Some of them favor
lighting policy, while others think it
wisest to mark time, supporting the
republican idea in form only.
Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins
must form a provisional government,
and a constitution. which must be rati-
fed by the British Parliament, must
be drawn up.
The treaty must be ratified by the
southern Irish Parliament, which is
nothing but the present Dali, with the
les OF two northern members and the
addition OF four representatives from
Trinity College.
Dali Rcssscmblcs To-day
When the Dali reassembles to.nors
row there may be a dramatic turn
withdrawal en- bloc either Of the
ratitiers or the rejectionists. A union
OF these two widely divergent groups
may be ruled out of consideration, as
1t IS impossible TO reconcile such fun
damenta differences.
Sooner or later there must be gem
eral election. and the sooner the bet
ten for the supporters Of the treaty.
II the country's electorate gives q
heavy vote in favor Of the treaty tho
Republicans Will be compelled to re-
main passive for the time being-per-
haps for this generation.
Despite her extreme bitterness, Mary
MacSwincy spoke the truth when she
said that among the advocates of ratifi-
cation were some who favored the
treaty only because it gave them op-
portunity to arm for another fight for
the republic and by others who saw
an opportunity OF gaining plums unde1
the established government. Of course,
that is true Of only small proportion,
but i. must be remembered that the
majority consists of only seven.
Much Depends Upon Britain
If the British make false move. Il
they antagonize the Irish in any way
at this stage, the majority would dis
appear in 4 twinkling and the govern.
ment would fall at once. If the Brit.
ish government starts Immediately to
withdraw troops and opens the prison
gates to 2.900 Irshmen convicted Of
political crimes, as we'll as more than
forty men awaiting the hangman's
rope, the position of Griffith and Collins
will be infinitely easier 1t is 10
secret that the Dublin Castle repre-
sen-atives have watched developments
with the kcenest interest and no little
anxiety. Premier Lloyd George un-
doubtedly will be magnanimous-any-
thing else would spell defeat for his
whole Irish policy.
Griffith, who will head the new gov.
ernmcnt, IS essentially moderate II not
pacifst, and along with him may be
placed Speaker McNeill, George Gavan
Duffy end Esmon J. Duggan.
If all the Republican group remains
aloof, there will be an extreme short
age OF cabinet timber. Nobody apprc.
ciates this more than Collins. who is
desperately anxious to win over some
mcmbs rs from the Left. Richard Null.
cahy, the youthful chief of staff. has
decided to abandon his medical studies
and follow a military career. Among
the young members Mulcahy shows the
most promise as a statesman.
Collins for War Minister -
Collins is expected to become Minis4
ter of War, and none will have a hards
er job, for the country is filled with
young men who have done little in thu
last five years except fight. Thus faj
the discipline has been remarkabl1