The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-11
IRISH PEACE
TREATY At
LAST RATIFIED
Dali Eireann Votes ga
to 81 to Accept Stat
us Of Free State Ire
land in British En-
pire

O1I
Dublin. Jan. S.-Thc peace treaty
has been ratified and prayers OF
Thanksgiving went up from the
people in all the churches today,
but ireland continues to face IN
terna1 disorganiZation. giving rise
to the greatest anxiety.
The split in the Dali Eireann has
been heightened and intensified by
the vote on the treaty. and the fu-
ture was never more obscure. At
different hours today the two tac-
tions held conferences at the Man
sion House. The Dali will meet
again tomorrow in public session.
1t has become apparent that Ea-
mon De Ealera's resignation as
president did not take an official
form. and the outstanding question
tonight is whether he will make
effective his expressed intention to
resign, and if he does not what
will become Of the Dali. Many
believe that opponents of the treaty
plan to keep the Sim Fein parlia-
ment in being while the support
ers Of the treaty endeaVor to es-
tablish 81 provisional government
and carry out the terms of the
peace agreement
Mr.. De Valera 8 resignation ten
dered TO the Dali Eireann Friday
was specific; he consented, how
ever, to postpone action thereon
on condition that a vote on the
treaty should be taken within rs
hours. At the same time he
plainly stated that he intended,
whatever happened" 70 retire to
private life
When the vote was taken. the
resignation was not repeated, Mr..
De Valera merely abiding to it
when he arose and in voice brok-
en- with emotion begun to explain
his personal position. But he had
not got far when he sat down, un-
able to so on.
Later De Valera summoned 4
meeting for today, exclusively con-
fined to the fifty-Seven deputies
who voted against the treaty, and
today at the Mansion House prior
70 the private session of his asso-
ciates, he delivered speech which
was a clear indication Of his inten-
ton to continue the fight, this time
apparently not only against the
British government. but against the
provisional government of the Irish
Free State, which, he said. he re-
garded as 4 usurpation, and to
(which the chief objection is that
it derives its authority from tho
British parliament
May Debate Resignation.
There are many tonight who are
OF the opinion that the question OF
Mr. De Yalera's suspended resisna-
ton must be debated at tomorrow's s
meetings Of the Dali. The incon-
sistcncies in his declaration have
puzzled all Commentators. but Art
O'Brlcn. president OF the Sell-De-
termination League OF Great Brit
ain. who although not member OF
Dali. has been privileged during
the debate TO sit among the mem
bers and who is in closest touch
and sympathy with De Valera in
formed the Associated Press today
that his Interpretation is that Mr..
De Valera will resign presidency
and retire 10 private life only
when he has consolidated the Re-
publican position.
The task of the new provisional
government, faced by a position
from old Republican colleagues,
will be extremely difficult. Some
OF the deputies. including Miss
MacSwiney. have frankly declared
their intention to act from the out
set as rebels against the provisions
government.