When the debate was reopened on Wednesday Mr. Garen Duffy
described how Mr. Lloyd George prevailed upon the delegates to sign. According to him Mr. Lloyd George said :-
" It must now be peace or war. My messenger goes to-night to Belfast. I haire here two answers, one confirming the Treaty, the other declaring a rupture, and if it be rupture it means immediate war. The only way to avert that immediate war is
to bring me the undertaking to sign of every one of the plenipo- tentiaries, with a further undertaking to recommend the Treaty to Dail Eireann and bring me that by ten o'clock. Take your choice."
Mr. Gavan Duffy said he had been." torn with anguish," but all the delegates had felt that if they.did not sign "fresh hordes of savages would be let loose in this country to trample, torture, and crucify." Coherence and good sense were momentarily brought back to the debate by Mr. Duggan, the Minister of Justice, who laughed at the idea that he had been intimidated by Mr. Lloyd George. He had signed the Treaty in London freely and deliber- ately. It was perfectly well known by everybody that the delegates never went to London with the hope of winning the recognition of the Republic. So far, three definite groups have emerged : those in favour of the Treaty ; those in favour of an alternative Treaty which has been concocted by Mr. De Valera, and which by a supreme negation of statesmanship sacrifices the substance to the shadow; and thirdly the " whole hoggers," who would like to go on fighting for a Republic.
