The New York herald., 1922-02-23

by Prime Minister Lloyd George and
other British Cabinet Minister'S.
All the objections to the agreement
raised on the floor to-day after Eamon
emanated from prominent republicans,
and despite Mr.. de Valera's assurances
that he had carefully considered every
point and was quite satisfied with Ar
thur Griffith's emphatic declaration
that no election must be forced upon the
country during the coming three
months. the republicans decided to hold
a meeting this evening in the Mansion
House TO insist upon clarifying certain
points which they considered dubious.
The points on which the republicans
particularly demanded assurance was
what the agreement meant by the Free
State constitution to be submitted to
the electorate. Was II merely the con-
stitution as drafted by the Provisional
Government on its own Interpretation of
the treaty. or was IL to be a final con-
stitution which the British Government
could not alter? Mr.. De Valera's esti-
mate of the effect OF the agreemen.
took the latter view.
Building an Opposition Party.
At the Mansion House meeting this
evening the republican delegates for
mulated plans for participating in the
elections three months hence. De
Valera presided and a majority of the
opponents of the treaty were among
the delegates present. An election COM
mittee was appointed and a movement
was launched for the subscription OF
100000 for a daily republican news
paper, which, in Mr.. De Valera's words
will tell the truth regardless OF party
interests"
The meeting was private. but later,
in a statement on the republican plans,
Sean MacIntee said that advantage had
been taken of the presence of the dele
gates in Dublin to build the framework
of a political organization. constituting
the nucleus of republican party.
If defeated at the elections thi- party
would. unless the new constitution in
cluded an oath OF allegiance to the Brit
iSh Crown, set itself up as the chief
opposition party in the Free State Par
lament.
Asked whether IT was intended to con-
duct a campaign in the United States,
he said that the question of sending an
emissary had not yet been decided, bu'
thought the matter would he left in the
hands of the American Association for
the Recognition of the Irish Republic.
BY the terms Of to-day's agreement
Arthur Griffith is as strongly COM
mitted as Mr.. de Valera not tn appeal
to the electorate, except with sanction
of the Dali Eireann, and the majority
favoring the provisional Government
within the Dali is admittedly so small
and so precarious that no resolution
promoting elections to which the De
Valera faction would be strongly op-
posed could be carried.
There will be no cessation In the
publication of the newspaper the Re-
public Of ireland, which supports Mr..
de Valera, and It Is believed similar
staters is being prepared. Within the
framework of the party organization
itself. however, it is assumed that the
Sim Fein clubs as such will not engage
in active political hostilities.
The provisional Government will be
subject TO criticism in the Dali. but to-
days agreement provides that Dali
majority cannot put the supporters OF
the provisional Government out of office
1t Is hoped the agreement will check
the lack Of discipline in the republican
army. and, regardless of the views of
the individual members, it is believed
the army will obey the high command.
of which Richard Mulcahy, Minister of
Defense in the provisional Government,
is the head.
Mr.. Mulcahy has declared that al
though he was a supporter of the treaty
he would maintain the army as repub-
lican body, and it was he who was
mainly instrumental in bringing about
to-dsy's peace agreement.