The Washington times., 1922-08-31
COLLINS WAS !.
FORGE BACK Of J.
IRISH TREATY
Lamented Arthur Griffith Gave
Him Full Credit, for Free
State Pact.

representative Of The Washington
Times, continues the igterVieU
Mr.. Talbot had nth Arthur
Griffith, the last one Griffith
granted before his death. In
publishing these articles, The
Washington Timess cannot be too
emphatic in asserting that the
book is presented to American
readers for its historic interest
only, and toithout prejudice for or
against either side of the conflict
ing Irish elements.
BY HAYDEN TALBOT.
Copyright, 1879. by New York American.
CHAPTER v.
Section .. $751;.
Continuing his argument, in our
interview, concerning the aims and
accomplishments Of Sim Fein,
after his eulogy Of William Rooney,
TO whom he ascribed much of the
credit of organizing, Sim Fein,
Arthur Griffith asserted: ::
Rooney spoke as prophet. He
prepared the way and foresaw
victory, and he helped his nation
TO rise and by developing its soul
get ready for victory"
. ,"And you feel that the treaty
is then such a victory?" ! asked.
Yes" came Griffith's instant
reply, "It's just that. Ireland's
victory is a fact. The Irish people
are at last masters in their own
house. But let me attempt to
ga kA ka.. -. L.
Dali Eireann sent US to London to
make a bargain with England. We
made the bargain. We brought it
back. The Irish people accepted it.
Indisputable Facts.
These are indisputable facts. Our
Job In London was to reconcile
Irish national aspirat tons with the
association OF ireland with the com.
munity OF nations known as the
British Empire That job was as
hard one as was ever placed on
The shoulders Of men. We didn't
seek the Job. When other men re-
FUSED to go. we went. And our
critics should remember that the
very fact Of our going was an
! acknowledgment in itself that we
prepared to accept less than the
complete independence Of an isolated
republic. o..
II signed the treaty. not as. an
ideal thing, but fully believing what
believe. now, that II safeguards
the interests Of Ireland and Is ever.
lasting proof Of our rightful recogni.
ton as a distinct nationality.
90. Stands BY Treaty.
by that treaty am going to
stand The suggestion that patriot.
ism justifies man putting his sig.
nature to a bond Of this kind with
his tongue in his cheek is abomina-
Bile. -.
The Irish people declared that
the treaty was good enough for them
and the Irish people are our mas.
ters, not our slaves. We are not
the dictators of the Irish people,
but their representatives. And IL
we misrepresent them our moral
authority and the strength Behind
US are gone forever.
Now as TO the efforts made to
show that certain men stood un.
compromisingly on a rock.ribbed re.
public-the time hasn't yet arrived
10 prove such statements untruth.
full, but the time may not be far
distant when facts may safely be
told. 3.
The men who have tried to make
the Irish people believe this are
the same men who have done their
utmost to discredit the one man
who made the negotiations possible
the man who won the war-COL-
LINS.
They charged him with having
compromised Ireland's rights. But
Ireland's rights never have been in
better hands in all Irish history.
They know that in the letters that
preceded negotiations, not once VAS
demand made for recognition of
the Irish republic. They know that
II such a demand had been made
there would have been no negotia.
tions.
That section Of Dali styling them.
selves uncompromising republicans,
not to mention women members of
Dali Eireann, were determined that
we should obtain nothing less than
recognition for the republic, even
though they well knew 1t needed only
the making Of the demand for
negotiations abruptly to stop.
Three times we submitted docu.
Iment No. 2, which was not written
by Valera but by Childers, to Lloyd
George. Three times he turned II
down. -. F..
There was nothing Of a republic
in that document. It included the
oath Of allegiance to King George
These facts must not be made public
so long as there Is chance of
settling our differences.
"I permitted my hands to be tied
in Dali. There\I called the differ.
ences between document No. 2 and
the treaty bubble over words. So
far as my power can accomplish it.
not one Irish life shall be lost over
such a bubble. 49,.
Verdict Up To Irish.
THE day will come when we shall
be put on trial by the Irish people.
1t will be their verdict that will
matter. .
I'VE did our best for ireland. II
the Irish people had said-havins
gotten everything else but the name
NJ repilhliC--that they would fi9ht