The Topeka state journal., 1922-05-31
lDv The Associated Press.

London. May 31.-Great Britain viii
tolerate no republic in Ireland and II
the terms of the Anglo-Irish treaty are
not carried out by the Irish the British
government will resume her liberty to
act in taking back the power con-
ferred on the provisional government
and in rcOccupying the territory eVac-
uated. it was declared in the house OF
commons today by Winston spencer
Churchill the colonial secretary.
Secretary Churchill. in the course of
the debate following his statement on
the Irish situation reiterated that
Great Britain would not tolerate the
establishment of a republic in Ireland
He said the British troops remaining
in Dublin were militarily secure and
were awaiting eventualities.
War Is Almost BEGUN
o In the event a republic is set up"
added the colonial secretary, 'it is the
intention of the British government to
hold Dublin as one of the preliminary
and essential steps of military opera
NO one disputed" said the secre-
tarv. that the wish of the Irish peo-
pie was reconciliation which would
give Ireland her freedom, her place in
the world and the hope of final unity.
up to ten days ago the leaders of
the provisional government had ap-
peared to be resolved to march stead
lily forward thru a free election and
put down If necessary by force all
armed persons who tried to prevent
them.
The agreement reached between
Michael Collins. head of the prOvi-
sionaI government and Eamonn de
Valera, the Republican leader, how
ever. struck directly at the provisions
of the treaty, Mr. Churchill declared.
Doubts Free Elections"
Tie consequences of the agreement
were very serious, he said. and it
seemed proba BILE that the Irish people
would not he able to give free express
sion to their views
The imperial government would
not in any circumstan agree TO
deviate from the treaty, either in the
strict letter or the honest spirit of the
document. Mr. Churchill declared.
1T is almost certain Mr.. Churchill
went on. that the Irish people Will
not be able to say In an intellg1ble
way whether they accept or reject the
treaty offered by Great Britain.
certain number of labor or independ-
ent candidates may doubtless secure
election. but il is difficult to see how
the parliament resulting from the
based on that parliament after the
election can have either representa-
tive or democratic quality or author
ity as ii is usually understood
No Leaflets Were Issued.
In reply to n question. Mr.. Churchill
S11Q rlaL lne Tree state government
did not. as was charged. issue a leaflet
urging the Irish voters to support the
treaty candidates in the coming cleo
tfons on the ground that they could
thus secure a republic thru the safe.
short road of the treaty"
The provision of the agreement that
four anti-treaty men will be included
in the government after the 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 con-
stituted.
I'VE were content he said. with
the provision inserted in Article II, of
the treaty that the members of the
government should in this interim
period sign a declaration of adherence
to the treaty which heretofore has
been signed willingly by all the mem
bers of the provisional government
Treaty Is Broken Easily.
IF Mr.. De Valera and his three
anti-treaty men. or whoever the min
listers are to be who are to come into
the government after election are
willing to sign that declaration in a
bona fide manner we will have no
grounds for complaint. but IL they be-
come members of the government
without signing that declaration. the
treaty is broken by that very fact"
Mr- Churchill then declared that in
the event of the refusal of Mr.. De
Valera or others made ministers after