The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-01-20
IRISH RATIFY
PEACE TREATY
Ratification Follows Period of In
tense Excitement and Heat
ed Controversy.
BURGESS ASSAILS COLLINS
Dramatic Scene In DaiI-After Vote
de Valera Calls for Republic and
Then Breaks Down-CroWds
Cheer Outside.

Dublin.-Ireland's treaty of associa.
ton with the British Commonwealth
was ratified in the Dali Efreann by q
vote of 81 to 81. A provisional govern
ment is being formed, with Arthur
Griffith and Michael Collins as the
moving spirits. 1t Is as yet uncertain
how much support they will get from
those who voted against the treaty,
but the likelihood is there will be no
open split.
After the tense moments during
which the vote was counted Mr.. Col
Inns appealed for support by all and
for the appointment of joint COM
mittee. This cannon de Valera ignor-
ed, asking his supporters to meet him
at the Mansion House. Then he arose
as If to reply to Mr.. Collins, saying
1--WE stood together for four years"
and collapsed into his chair.
Charles Burgess (Cathal Brugha),
who held the portfolio of Minister OF
Defense In the De Valera Cabinet and
whose bitter personal attack on MIR.
Collins probably turned the scale in
favor of ratification Of the treaty, then
promised that the discipline in the
irish Republic Army would be main
tanned, and the meeting adjourned.
While Irelands new birth into
liberty was under these turgid auspices
within the Dali Eireann, Dublin and
the country a. large received it with
every manifestation Of joy. A vast
crowd outside the hall where the meet
ing was held greeted the news of
ratification with wild cheers, which
grew when the Irish leaders, especially
Mr.. de Valera, left the building. The
news spread rapidly through Dublin,
the wires flashed 1t all over the coun-
try, and within an hour great peat fires
were burning on the Wicklow hills
and were visible in Wales.
Even Dublin Castle reJoiced over the
ratification of the treaty. Officials there
will lose their posts, but one of them
said that they stood ready to nelp the
new Irish government in every way,
and that If their help was not wanted
to lhdraw wit;lou. acrimony.
The procedure rOW will be TO estab-
lish provisional government, with or
without the cooperation Of D: Valera
and the recaicitrants, and to send two
delegates to London 4. inform Dowl-
III. street of sle ratification of the
pact. The Irish Free State will then
proceed to take cvct the goverunental
fun liz ms provi Id IL the treaty such
rs the railroa Is anl post offices. Col
Inns AID Griffith ace meeting iii the
Gresham Hotel h are lcr this purp jsa.
1t is the best opinion that when the
De Valera faction meets some Of the
members will decide to cooperate with
the government, but few irrecon-
ciliables will hold out, advocating con-
stitutional agitation and not violence,
and that the opposition Will eventually
prove negligible. AS soon as the pro-
visional government is settled Griffith
and Collins will appeal to the people.
They will hold general election. They
do not doubt the result.
1t was the meeting which suddenly
changed the atmosphere Of gloom to
one of confidence on the part Of the
forces which stood for ratification Of
the treaty. When the Dali met the
change was evident Harry ]. Boland.
who has just arrived from New York,
began his speech with {. clear admis-
sion that Ireland would lose all but
fanatic devotees in America If the
treaty was not ratified.
The military authorities in Dublin
evidently consider the vote in favor d
the peace treaty by the Dali Eireand
as final &c cision on the Irish situa-
tion. Ever since the Dublin City Hall
was Communicated by the military
and courts-martial were held there the
building had been surrounded by
barbed wire entanglements which
projected across the pavement. Sol
diers began clearing away all the wire.