The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-31


LONDON, May 31.-Winston Spen-
Ger Churchill, secretary for the Colon
les. asserted in the house of commons
today that the agreement reached be
tween the political factions in south
crn Ireland last Saturday strikes d.,
rectly at the provisions Of the Anglo
Iish treaty
No one disputed. said the secretary.
that the wish of the Irish people was
reconciliation which would give Ire
land more freedom, her place in the
world and the hope of final unity Up
70 ten days ago the leaders of the
provisional government had appeared
10 be resolved to march steadily for
ward through a free election and put
down, if necessary by force, all arm
cd persons who tried to prevent them.
The agreement reached between
Michael Collins, head of the prOvi-
sional government and EamOn DeVal-
ora, the republican leader, however,
struck directly at the provisions of the
treaty, Mr.. Churchill declared
The consequences of the agreement
we're very serious. he said, and it
seemed probable that the Irish people
would not be able to give free EXPIRES
sion to their views
Points Out Break
If Mr.. DeNalera or any of the others
who might be ministers in the Irish
government refused to sign the decla-
ration prescribed in the treaty. the
secretary continued, the treaty was
broken by that fact and the imperial
government resumed such liberty of
action-whether in regard to the re-
- I'll 4
been transferred on the reoccupation
of territory-as it might thing appro-
pirate and proportionate to the gravity
of the breach.
The imperial government would not
in any circumstances agree to deviate
from the treaty. either in the strict let
ter or the honest spirit of the docu-
ment, Mr.. Churchill declared
1T is almost certain" Mr.. Churchill
went on, that the Irish people will
not be able to say in an intelligent
way whether they accept or reject the
treaty offered by Great Britain A
certain number of labor or independ-
Cnt candidates may doubtless secure
election, but if is difficult to see how
the parliament resulting fro mthe cleo
ton and the government to be based
on that parliament the election can
have either representative or demo
cratic quality, or authority as il is
usually understoond
Denies LeatIet
In reply to a question Mr.. Churchill
said that the free state government
Oid not as was charged issue a leaf
let urging the Irish voters to support
the treaty candidates in the coming
elections on the ground that they could
thus secure republic through the
safe short road of the treaty"
The provision of the agreement that
tour anti-treaty men will be included
N the government after election
strikes directly at the provisions OF
the treaty. Mr. Churchill said. adding
that the British. in making the treaty
did not demand that the members OF
the parliament should take the oath
prescribed by the treaty for the free
state parliament, when finally consti
tuted.
Content With Provision.
We were content" he said. with
the provision inserted in article II OF
rhe treaty that the members of the
government should in this interim
period sign a declaration of adherence
10 the treaty, which heretofore has
been signed willingly by all the mem
bers of the provisional government -
If Mr.. DeNalera and his three anti
treaty men, or whoever the ministers
are to be who are to come into the
government after the election, are will
ing TO sign that declaration in bona
lide manner we will have no ground.
tor complaint. but ii fhey became mem
bers OF the government without sign
ing that declaration the treaty is brok
en- by that very fact"
After Secretary Churchilrs speech
Arthur Griffith and Michael Collin.
said the colonial secretary had mad,
a perfectly fair presentation of tn,
situation.
Mr. Collins will return to Irelan,
this afternoon. Mr.. Griffith will re
main in London for a few days.