Evening star., 1922-02-22
PUT OVER ARD FHE|S
FOR THREE MONTHS
Sim Fein Leaders in Effort to
Avoid Split Take Un-
expected Step.
BY the Associated Press.

ny tne Associated free1.
DUBLIN, February 22-An agree
mont to adjourn the Ard Fheis. the
Sinn Fein national convention, for
three months was reached today by
the conventions leaders.
The agreement provides that no
vote in the dali eireann shall require
the resignation of the provisional
government and that there shall be
election is held, it Is stipulated, a
new constitution. under the Anglo
Irish treaty, shall be submitted to the
country.
Factions Nearer Together.
The first days debate In the Ard
Fheis seems to have cleared the at
mosphere to a great extent and the
feeling as the delegates assembled
again today was that the Sim Fein
would retain its unity despite the
bitter feeling over the Anglo-Irish
treaty.
The political correspondent of the
Freeman's Journal says that late yes
terday the feeling among the dele
gates In favor of an understanding.
which had found expression only in
Whispers during the morning, had
become the dominant note of the as
sembly. Indeed, as the day wore on
1T seemed as if the great bulk of the
delegates were opposed to division on
any subject.
In the event of a division, the ma
jority on either side would have been
very slender, but toward the close
or the day the sentiment for unity
overshadowed all else, although few
seemed to envisase any practical
road for its achievement
See Dangers in Split.
The Irish Independent says the
delegates from the country, In daily
touch with the people and with the
fe t,Jii o. the many cases of dis
g Consequences from former
dissensions, showed true appreciat ton
or .he grave dangers involved in the
prospect OF a split.
They perceived that, with the ma
tion divided, its power to assist COM
piete fulfllment of the treaty will be
impaired There had been a lot of
delay already and portents were not
wanting that further extended delay
might be attended by political risk.
between the leaders and the people.
The Freeman's Journal says the
most significant feature of the pro-
ceedings was the determination of
the documentarians to avoid contact
with the Irish people as long as pos
sible. They denounced the appeal to
the elements.
Peace Greatly Desired.
For over two months the country
mas had before it the treaty and De
ValeraS rejected documents Now
me author of the documents objects
decision. There often have been re-
publicans who were not democrats.
put the Irish people believe in the
democratic principle.
1T says much for the friends of
me treaty and their desire for unity
1hat they should be endeavoring to
dnd formula that would satisfy De
vaiera- Evidently the majority of
the Ard Fheis desires to preserve the
organization intact. and will be glad
II the formula is found. 1t is to be
hoped 1t will provide for the rescue
OF ireland from the chaos which
threatens 1t in certain districts.
Why the republicans should OBJ
eembly to determine the constitution
IS dif1cult to understand"
Collins to Support Claims.
Michael Collins. head of the pro-
v1sional government, is sending to
Secretary for Colonies Churchill a
reply to the Ulster telegram Of yes
answer to Collins complaint regard
ing the treatment of prisoners in the
hands Of the Ulsterites.
Ihe ulster government said 1t re-
scented the making Of vague charges"
against its constabulary, "unsupport-
ed by any evidence" Mr.. Collins de-
clares he will cite to Secretary
Churchill several specific instances Of
atrocities in Belfast in the week end
Ing February 18. for which he holds
Premier Craig's followers directly
responsible.
The Irish Trade-Union Congress at a
special meeting here discussed the
political situation, especially with
reference to the coming elections.
and decided to participate actively in
the electoral struggle. The decision
was reached by vote of 104 to 49.