The New York herald., 1922-05-02
Representatives Sign Pact Adj
mitting People Are Willing
to Accept Treaty.
AGREEING TO ELECTION
Rory 0'ConnOr Raids Clubs
With Insurgents as Peace
Talk Is Held.

Speciol Gable TO THE New Yosk HERALD.
Copyright, f9es, by THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Dublin, May l. {
Five leaders of the first southern
division Of the Irish Republican Army
practically the whole secessionist
force signed an agreement to-day
with Michael Collins, head of the pro-
visional Government. accepting the
Free State treaty as the sole means of
avoiding, fratricidal war. and agreeing
to the holding of elections as provided
for under that treaty.
This represents tremendous VIC
tory for Mr.. Collins and insures the
avoidance Of an armed CLASH.
Mr.. Collins and four of the regular
army leaders met the five secessionist
leaders. who included Sean Brean, just
returned from America and a promi
nent figure in the Easter rising OF
1916. who has strongly opposed the
treaty. The ten men signed state
ment which said:
III the present drift is maintained
conflict between comrades is inevita-
bic. Such a conflict would be tho
greatest in Irish history. and Ireland
would be broken for generations" II
urged tho uni6cation of the army or
the only basis possible:
First. acceptance of the fact ad.
mitted by all that the majority of tho
people in Ireland are willing to accept
the treaty.
Second. holding the elections with
that in view.
Third, forming a Government which
shall have the confidence of the whole
country.
Fourth, uniication OF the army or
the above basis.
The agreement was signed by the
following for the secessonists: Sean
Brean. Tom Hale, S. III. Murphy, Sean
O'Higgins and T. O'Donoghue.
The first southern division constitutes
one-quarter of the whole army. con-
sists of men all OF whom heretofore
have opposed the treaty. and virtually
controls the province of Munster. It's
leader recently proclaimed that If the
treaty were accepted by the rest of
Ireland. they would establish the Re-
public of Munster.
DUBLIN. May | (Associsted Press) -
Rory O'Connor. head of the irregular
army group. said tonight that some
of the signers of the statement hold
minor positions in his forces. He added
that he might perhaps make state
meut after he had considered the de-
tails OF the plans set forth in the agree
ment.
Irish Republican army irregulars to-
night seized the well known Kildare
Street Club and the large building in
Westmoreland street occupied by the
Port Authority.
The latter building commands the
o'Connell Bridge and Saekvile street.
The raiders smashed the windows, which
were then barricaded with furniture and
sandbags. Rory o'Connor. head OF the
irregular forces. in an interview said the
buildings lad not been seized with any
specific object. but merely because he
needed accommodations.
Eamon de Valera tonight issued a
detailed explanation OF his attitude at
the peace conference last week, in which
he calls the proposal made by Michael
Collins for a plebiscite on the question
OF acceptance or rejection OF the treaty
one for "Stone Age machinery"
Mr.. de Valera in his explanation deals
FIRST with his objection TO an election or
a plebiscite. except for all Ireland. He
renews his objection TO the existing
Continued ON Page Seven