Norwich bulletin., 1922-01-07

the w>ople, but that was an untruth. r
1t was proved historically that the men
Of 1915 represented the heart, soul and
aspirations Of the Irish ration. No cleo
ton taken under duress or otherwise
could d;sprove that.
Mr De Valera described his position as
one Of preserving the balance between
Cathal Brugha (Charles Burgess) the
Sim Fen minister of defense, who sur
rendered the military leadership to him.
and Arthur Griffith. who surrendered tine
political leadership. He was he de-
clsred a sort of a connecting link be-
tween the two sdss,
Tlss was successfG. for four years. A
union OF these forces was absolutely es-
sentisi to national success. There could
be no question OF asking the. Irish people
to enter into any arrangement making
them subject to the crown or to require
allegiance to the British king, Mr.. De
Valera said.
II war was attempted the speaker con-
tinued, the people woud face 1t, and the |
Irish delegates were told this and were
informed that the sooner the British can.
met realized it the better. The document |
brought by the delegates from London |
Dee. was inconsistent with that posi- |
tion.
Arthur Griffith, he said, declared he
would not break on the point regarding |
the crown: it was made clear that this |
would involve split in the country. A
promise accordingly was given that a
document involving the making of Irish
citizens British subjects would not be
signed until submitted to the Irish parlia-
ment
He was so certain that this promise
! would be fulfilled. Mr. De Valera said
/ tnat when he heard an agreement had
| been reached he said we have won,
| But when he saw in the newspaper
J that the agreement reached was one alb
soiutely Inconsistent. with Irish tradition
and against the state as it stood, he
knew that practically irrevocable step
| had been taken.
Mr.. De Valera said he had been press
ing in his efforts to achieve p.ave There
was the view of an Irish state as a sove-
reign independent state and the view
that4reiand should be sovereign state,
! absolutely isolated. such rs Switzerland
| He attacked that political prem, and
he nothing in the pronosal he made
inconsistent with the complete indepen-
dence Of Irish nationality. He had draft
ed his proposal roughly, and it was pre-
sented. just as draft. to the cabinet
II mad been asked that it be regarded as
a confidential document but that conf
dence was broken and he could not try
TO carry on unless he had confidence
In the members of his cabinet
This document had been used as T. "red
herring across the tracks. Mr De Valera
said. but he added that he felt he was
doing something not merely for Ireland
but for reconciliation Of the two pec-
pies The treaty, if signed, could not
bring peace, for the Irish Y,eople would be
rebels against British authority; thN
would not be British subjects
. Neither technically nor otherwise the
speaker asserted. was he himself a Brit
ish subject, and, thank COD, ne would
die without being one This statement
, was greeted with cheering.
Mr.. De Valera said he had been reared
in a laborer's cottage and was enabled
to know what the lrish people wanted by
/ examining into his own life. He was no
member of the Irish republican brother
mood, but when he died he hoped h,
n would nave Fenian grave. Again ,her,
was cheering. lie said he stood definite
~ for the republic proclaimed in 1917
, and constitutionalIy established in 1916
N Continuing, Mr.. De Valera said tha
y. on his sigma ton the cabinet went ou
. with him II reelected, he could nav,
. new cabinet but If the people re-electet
d him he must have full use of all the re
sources Of the republic 10 defend the re
!, public. He then could offer the Britisl
. people and the peoples Of the states o
l. the British commonwealth terms of peac
a as set out in his proposal
n The people in Ireland would DENY tn
. right Of the British parliament or tn
! British crown, Or any other foreign gov
m ernment legislation for Ireland. an
n would use al the means they could t
prevent Great Britain holding Irelan
. ny mis- airy force or otherwise
= Michael Collins wanted to know on Nj
( De Na4era's statement if the Dali Eirean
r could discuss document No or No.
- NJ. De Valera answered that he had TO,
l. mally iaid before the house his resigns
n ton as chief executive, and with tha
ID went also the cabinet Let the hons
ht choose between the two policies, h
a. added.
a Arthur Grihith said it had been agree
n ny the president that a straight vol
should be taken for or against the treat,
and he regarded this as an unfair a
tempt at closing the discussion. Mr.. T
Valera said he would not take the r.
sponsbility for being the defender of t.
republic any longer.
he suspension of the order of the de-
q TO enable Mr.. De Valera's resignation
al he considered was then moved for debat
he Mr. Collins said he had rendered h
~ resignation to Mr.. De Valera, who r
n FUSED It, If the treaty was rejected
a added. the president could have any ca
~ met he liked. The speaker declared tn
ls the morning session of the Dali had be,
an hindered in receiving the report Of q
y peace committee by three of your bu
a. lies"
There were loud cries Of "withdraw "
Y. to whsch Mr.. Collins responded Il w
"a withdraw, but the spoken word cannot
re- recalled" The house broke into laug
at ter. Mr.. Collins declared the motif
We was simply political dodge. and he CO
or denned the 'Tammany'' methods.
Ia Mr.. Burgess said that If Mr.. Coli
nr meant him as a bully his acceptance
Ie- the taunt would be measured by his !
er- spect for the character of the man ma
ing the charge and that therefore
.ra would take no notice of it.
ish Harry Bolapd said he had come fri
ish the United States to vote against
nm treaty and support President De Vale
ple He ss1d he thought Mr.. Collins, If he h
nd any Tammany Hall training, might ha
ed kept his bullying for Premier Lilo
N. George.
the Mr. De Valera in explaining why
are must resign said there must be someo
are in authority. A journalist had been X