The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-03
Dali OPENS
HOT DEBATE
ON TREATY
Countess Markiewicz
Flags Pact-Vote Elk
pected Thursday.

Dublin, Ireland, Jan. S.-By the
Associated Press.)-The Dali Fire
ann lost no time after reconven-
ing today following its 12-day re-
cess in plunging again into sharp
debate on the Anglo-Irish treaty. 1t
had before it once more, an order
of the day calling for considera-
ton of both Arthur Griffith's rati-
fication meeting and Eamonn de
Valera's alternative proposals.
1t was not generally thought the
debate would run many days long
er, many members anticipating a
vote by Thursday night or Friday.
An opponent of the treaty, Art
O'Connor, of South Kildare, Dali
minister of agriculture, opened to-
days debate with an argument that
the treaty was step backward
and a declaration of belief that the
real heart of the Irish people had
not changed, despite the numerous
resolutions by various bodies in
favor of the pact.
UConnor Attacks Supporters.
O'Connor asserted the campaign
since the Dail's adjournment had
in reality hurt the treaty, declaring
it had been waged by people who
had never done any good work for
the country and were now howl
ing at u.s." He attacked the South
ern Unionists, saying the people of
Ireland would have none of them
in the Irish Free State.
O'Connor was interrupted sever
al times, notably by Michael Col
Inns, who resented his attitude on
resolutions favoring the treaty
adopted by meetings of farmers and
other public bodies. Collins called
attention to the sufferings of the
rural population, whose houses had
been burned on all sides.
Beasley Defends.
In a speech strongly supporting
the treaty, Pierce Beasley of County
Kerry, famous for his prison break
ing exploits, and his lifelong con-
tributions to the Irish movement,
said he had hoped the realities of
the situation as affecting the well
fare of ireland would cause the
petty political difference in the Dali
to fade into insignificance. None
of the opponents of the treaty, he
declared, had shown any sign OF
constructive craftsmanship, or had
even indicated what they proposed
to do if the treaty were rejected.
Beasley contended the treaty
gave everything ireland had been
fighting for. He laid especial stress
on the evacuation of the country by
the British army. Michael Collins
and Arthur Griffith, he declared,
knew the Irish people better than
the opponents of this treaty, who
care only for dry formulate.
Countess Markiewicz, the next
speaker, vigorously denounced the
treaty.
London Pessimistic.
London, Jan. 3.-Rival groups in
the Dali Eireann, which met today
to take final action on the treaty
of peace between Ireland and Great
Britain, were seemingly as wide
apart this morning as they were
when the Dali adjourned for the
Christmas holidays. Advices from
Dublin were discouraging, and il
was declared the situation there
was dominated by partisan spirit.
Some observers asserted there
was little prospect of the opposing
sections settling their differences
Some correspondents asserted that
the acceptance of the treaty would
be due to dissertations from voting
rather than the strength of those
supporting its ratification In any
event, final decision was not ex-
pected before Thursday.
Logue Prays for Pact.
Belfast, Jan. 3.-By the Asso-
ciated Press. cardinal Logue, the
primate of Ireland, addressing the
congregation in the Armagh cathe-
dral, asked it to pray that 1t
might please the Almighty God to
save them from such misfortune"
as the rejection of the Anglo-Irish
treaty, which held forth the only
hope of peace and tranquility to
ireland.