Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-01
IA IF F|CAT|0N
MARCHING ON To.
NEW IRISH ISSUE.
Question Whether Dali
Eireann Will Continue
to Exist Raised.
Commons Which Passes
Finally on Peace Pact
May Meet Only Once.

Dublin, Dec. 31.-(By The Asso-
ciated Press. .)-One of the narrowest
maiorities in favor of ratification of
the Irish treaty was recorded Satur-
day by the Cork county council, which
voted, Is to Il, at meeting specially
summoned by the lord mayor.
A resolution was moved proposing to
| leave the decision to the Dali Eireanfi.
but after long discussion an amendment
was carried to the effect that "as
there is no alternative to accept, the
treaty should be ratified
After a ratification resolution was
carried by the Donegal county council.
one member, Mr.. Duffy, formally pre-
sented his resignation, saying he was
unable to accept the treaty, but real
lied that a great majority of his con-
stituents preferred ratification.
Recruiting Suspended
The Cayan council and the Upper
ary urban council were among many
other bodies adopting resolutions in
favor of ratification.
Owing to the uncertainty of Ire
lands future. recruiting has been sus-
pended temporarily in all Irish infan-
try regiments except the Irish guards.
Besides the public bodies. the treaty
is being debated in the county com
mittees of the Sim Fein organization
and all those which already have met
have declared in its favor.
Two Hostile Camps Certain
It is evident that the Sim Fein Or
ganization is seriously divided and
whatever the decision the Dali Eireann
reaches. the country will be ranged in
two hostile camps
Ratification is regarded as certain,
but that will not terminate the contro-
versy. Technically, no official step for
ratification has yet been taken. 1t
will be the duty of the British govern
ment acting in Ireland through the
clerk of the crown to summon the rati-
flying body, which will consist of all
the members elected to the house of
commons for southern Ireland. That
house of commons itself as such does
not exist and could not come into be-
ing unless the members took the ordin-
ary oath of allegiance to the king.
The meeting will be for the sole pur-
pose of ratification and the members
will not meet again There will thus
be during the tenure of the provision
Ell government no Irish representative
body to which that government can be
responsible, except the Dali Eireann,
Lay New Government Open
Arthur Griffith and his colleagues
might recognize the authority of the
dali, but the provisional government
will. by agreement. include some rep
resentatives Of the former unionist
minority in ireland, who could not be
expected to do so and would recognize
their authority as derived solely from
the situation.
The circumstances might increase
the difficulties Of the new government
IN the transition period and lay it open
to republican attack. The whole fu-
ture largely turns on the fate of the
Dali Eireann. Some think it will auto
matically go out of existence, and on
ratification be superseded by the pro-
visonal government Those against
ratification declare that no matter what
the government rules from Dublin cas-
tie. the Dali Eireann will rule from the
Mansion house.