On Monday, Mr. De Valera issued a further statement, in
which he expressed the opinion that Ireland was " not in honour bound " by the fact that Sinn Fein plenipotentiaries had signed the Treaty. He compared his position with that of President Wilson in connexion with the Treaty of Versailles. Sir James Craig, speaking in the Ulster Parliament, also on Monday accused Mr. Lloyd George of breaking his pledge that the rights of Ulster should be "neither sacrificed nor prejudiced." He placed his trust, however, in the action to be taken by the friends of Ulster in the House of Commons, and especially in the House of Lords. On the whole ho was " not dissatisfied " with the situation. It had been hoped that the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, summoned to a special meeting by Cardinal Logue on Tuesday, would pass a resolution in favour of the Settlement being ac- cepted. Hope, however, was disappointed. At the end of the meeting an indefinite statement was issued to the effect that the Hierarchy " held in the highest appreciation the patriotism, the ability and honesty " of the Irish delegates ; but that as the next step was with Dail Eireann, the Hierarchy " earnestly begged of God that Dail Eireann might be guided with wisdom from above."
