7 JANUARY 1922, Page 9

On Wednesday, Mr. De Valera produced the text of his

alternative Treaty. He also issued on the same day a manifesto to the Irish people. Both documents show that since the secret session he has moved further towards the position of the extreme Republicans. His alternative Treaty is not what it was originally ; he has altered it in material respects. It now contains no 'oath of allegiance to the King, but substi- tutes a mere recognition of the King as head of the Associated States. Mr. Griffith pointed out that the twenty-three clauses of the original document had been cut down to seventeen. When Mr. De Valera declared his intention of moving his latest alternative proposal there was a noisy controversy about the procedure. It was argued that Mr. De Valera could not put his motion till the one before the House for affirming the Treaty had been disposed of. If this motion were carried, Mr. De Valera's could not be put at all.