Galway In Days Gone By

1921

Treaty differences

There is nothing clear about so much of the proceedings of the Dáil as the people of Ireland has so far been permitted to witness except that there are differences of opinion amongst the members of the Cabinet.

Even what these differences are is not very plain to the ordinary man. So far, it would appear that the divergence relates to the mode of procedure adopted by the Irish Plenipotentiaries.

On October 7, under the signature of Éamon de Valera, and the official seal of Dáil Éireann, they were given authority “as Envoy Plenipotentiaries from the elected Government of the Republic of Ireland to negotiate and conclude, on behalf of Ireland, with the representatives of His Britannic Majesty, George V., a Treaty or Treaties of settlement, association and accommodation between Ireland and the community of nations known as the British Commonwealth”.

They negotiated and concluded such a Treaty. Their work received the grateful applause of practically all of Ireland, the cordial commendation of all nations of the world. On Friday last, a letter was published from Mr. de Valera stating that he could not recommend the Treaty, some clauses of which were “in violent conflict with the majority of the Nation,” and that in this attitude he was supported by Messrs. Brugha and Stack.

Still the public demand for ratification remained overwhelming. Accompanying the original credentials of the Plenipotentiaries, quoted by Mr. Collins, in his defence on Wednesday – for the President opened the proceedings by putting Mr. Griffin and himself on their defence – were instructions, clause three of which laid it down, “It is also understood that the complete text of the draft Treaty about to be signed will be similarly submitted to Dublin, and a reply awaited.”

Mr. de Valera’s complaint was that a rough draft of the Treaty, which he said he could not sign, and did not think the other members of Cabinet was sign, was submitted to him, but that the final text, which “considerably differed” from this, was not submitted to the Cabinet.  Mr. de Valera was anxious that this difference as to procedure should not in any way interfere with the discussion on the Treaty itself. There was, he said, agreement up to a certain point. A definite question had to be decided, and they did not agree. He held out the hope that had the Cabinet been consulted, unity might have been secured.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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