The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-01-11
IRISH TREATY RATIFIED
BY SMALL MAJORITY
do Valera Immediately Announces
His Resignation as President. Much
Enthusiasm Shown by Pesple.

Dublin, Jan. Tho treaty creating
tho Irish F'ree State was ratified to-
night by tho Dail Direann. BY ma
5ority of seven votes, 64 to 81. the dali
gave its approval to tho document
signed by its delegates at Gondon.
Coincidentally. Eamon de Valera
announced his resignation from the
presidency Of the Irish republic.
| The news was received with tho
greatest enthusiasm, and the patient
crowds, which had waited for hours
outside the university building in an
ticipation Of advices, burst into cheer
ing, even before tho official figures
were announced.
qualification Of the treaty came after
a day Of intense excitement and heat-
ed controversy. Although the result
was as had been expected, the ma
1ority in favor Of the agreement was
greater than had been counted on al,
,most up to the last minute.
| A tense, strained silence prevailed
while the vote was being taken, and
a gasp OF relief went up from the sup
Dorters Of tho treaty when the result
was announced A dramatic scene en-
sued, when de Valera stood up and in
broken voice, which vibrated with
emotion, declared that ''the republic"
must be carried on.
|
/ Eventually he broke down SO com.
pletely that he was unable to pro
coed. The Dali Bireann, with one &C
cord, applauded and cheered him.
The situation at the adjournment
OF the dali appeared to remain cha
otic. The dali will meet on Monday
and there Is no disposition revealed
by de Valera and hts followers to
abandon the factional struggle.
The future control Of tho Irish re-
publican army is tonight the subject
OF anxious speculation, as Charles
Burgess, who strongly opposed the
treaty. Is the minister Of defense. SO
| far as the public is concerned, Dub
lin seems delighted over ratification.
Arthur Griffith and his colleagues. on
emerging from the parliament, we're
wildly cheered and the city tonight Is
in jubilant spirits.
On the announcement Of the fig-
ures, de Valera rose and declared that
the Irish people had established re-
public, and until the irish people In
a regular manner disestajblshed the
republic it constitutionally went on,
This would bo a sovereigp body in
the nation, to which the nation looked
for supreme government. 1t was the
executive until the people dlsestab-
lished 1t.
The body was disposed to challenge
this proposition, for the general opin-
ion all along had been that during the
transition period Ireland must keep
her representative assembly until the
treaty was converted into an act Of
parliament and the Irish would have
an opportunity to erect legislature
OF the Free State to replace the dali.
Michael Collins in quiet tones fol-
lowed dc Valera. TIe said he did not
regard the result in any spirit Of
triumph. He claimed that the men
representing the dali who would be
responsible for taking over from the
British government control of the
Irish administration should get fair
chance. In every country what mat
tered most was public order, and he
appealed to the other side to appoint
q joint committee OF both sides to
carry on the government. This was
greeted with cheers. Mr.. Collins de-
clared that de Valera held the same
place in his heart as ever.
Then followed a violent speech by
Mary MacSwiney, denouncing the re-
suit as worse than tho betrayal OF
Ireland in the days OF Castlereagh
(viscount Catlereagh, Marquis of Lon
donderry, who as chief secretary for
ireland In 1898, was instrumental in
carrying the union in t800.)
Mr.. de Valera roso again, suppos-
edly to reply to Mr.. Collins overture.
However, he took no notice OF it. and
merely appealed to all his own sup
porters in the dali to meet him at the
Mansion House tomorrow afternoon.
This evidently hurt Mr. Collins very
much. but he ouietly said. are file