The Washington herald., 1922-01-07
Resigns With Cabinet,
Then Reconsiders Step,
Amidst Wild Scenes.
DEMANDS SUPPORT
FOR IRISH REPUBLIC
Griffith and Collins Take
Lively Part in Wrangle
Over Treaty Action.

DUBLIN, Jan. s.-After the wild
est day in Irish politics. reaching a
climax In the resignation of Eamonn
de Valera from the presidency Of
the "repubIic"-and an anti-climax
In his withdrawal of the resignation
the Dahl Eireann has agreed to
take a vote on the question OF
ratifying the treaty of London at
its next session, Saturday.
De Valera's resignation, coming
as a bombshell shortly after the
Dali Eireann speaker had ruled on
the presidents alternative proposals
until a vote had been taken on the
treaty already negotiated" carried
with IT the resignation of the en-
tire cabinet. the proposal to form
a new government, and the threat OF
revolt by the extremist faction un-
less the president was returned to
office by a vote of the Dali.
Il definitely resign the chief ex-
ecutive authority" De Valera de-
clared. In announcing his resigna-
tion. With this goes the ministry,
IL you re-elect US we will adhere
to the Sim Fein constitution and do
our utmost to make Ii impossible
for England to hold this country.
New Phase Causes wrangIe.
There was an immediate wrangie
over the new phase Injected into
the discussion. in which Arthur
Gririth accused De Valera Of un-
fairly seeking a vote ION his own
personality"
Il am sick of this wrangling." De
Valera retorted. Whatever hap
pens I shall go back to private
life"
'T will never be a British sub
ject." the president continued. I
am for a republic. i demand that
the Dali shall decide who Is to be
the future ruler"
Micky Collins. leaping into the
argument, presented the claim that
De yalera's resignation and a dis
solution Of the government was
unfair and out of order"
There are three or four hullies
here" he said, who are trying to
run the Dali Eireann on Tammany
Hall principles"
. The Dali Eireann assembled at
1880 in the morning for its secret
session, after special committee
consisting of four extremists and four
followers of the Griffith-Collins fac
ton had sought all night for some
compromise. The refusal of De Valera
to withdraw his alternate proposal
which would have nullified the treaty
signed at London. and substitution
Of his own wording. resulted In a
continued deadlock. and debate In the
Dali failed to reach any solution
Decision I'm "a Hours.
The furore which followed the
president's resignation finally ended
when Arthur Griffith proposed that
the Dali reach a vote on the original
treaty at the Saturday session. with
the provision that De Valera would
withdraw his action. This De Valera
was persuaded to do. and the two fac
tions will come to actual grips on the
treaty within twenty-four hours.
"I believe that reconciliation be-
tween ireland and England is still
possible on a basis Of independence
for Ireland" said De Valera, but IL
it is not I am prepared to meet the
consequences. / have never been,
technically or otherwise. a British
subject ana please OOu never WIZ
and when die hope they give me
a Fenian's grave"
De Valera appeaerd to be laboring
under the deepest passion and some
times seemed to be approaching hys-
terra His voice broke and his face
became livid-
Speakers On Roth Sides
The debate. which was resumed
after the De Valera incident,
dragged on at weary length with
alternate speakers for and against
the treaty until after o'clock
when the Dali adjourned.
1t is said tonight that the whips
of each side have. agreed that to-
morrow's session will be confined
to two speeches, one against the
treaty by Cathal Brugha and one
for by Arthur Griffith, after which
a vote will be taken. The opinion
in the lobbies Is that the vote will
be close but the treaty will win.
1t is stated tonight that De
Valera has rallied some republi-
cans who would have abstained
from voting against the treaty by
his dramatic return this afternoon
to his republican position which II
was understood he had abandoned
when he put forward Document
No. 2.