The New York herald., 1922-03-27
ARMY MUTINEERS,'
.DEFYING Dali, VOTE /
TO UPHOLD REPUBLIC
Drastic Boycott on Belfast
Declared in Dublin
Convention.
DE VALERA Is SILENTeI
Republican Forces to Be-
Under Control of Execu-
tive Committee.
22O DELEGATES THERE
Most of Them Youthful andl
Few Wore Uniform Of Re- 4
publican Army. u
22O DELEGATES THERE

DUBLIN, Marcn 70 lASSoc1Hedi
Press The convention OF members
of the Irish Republican army held in I
Mansion House here to-day, notwith-
standing the prohibition issued by
fhe Dali Eireann authorities against
it. was in session for more than
twelve hours.
A resolution was passed unani-
mously reaffirming allegiance to the
Irish Republic. The resolution also
declared that the Republican army
should be under the supreme control I
Of an executive committee, which
shall draft constitution for submis-
sion at subsequent convention.
Among other matters on which the
convention took decisions and conf
cerning which the executive COM
mittee will later issue a full state I
ment was to boycott Belfast and TO
extend the boycott to the six north-
ern counties of Ireland.
An official statement which out.l
lined the above results of the pro-
ceedings added that the delegates
present numbered 220. that they reps
resented forty-nine brigades, as we'll
as four members of general headquar-
ters and officers from eight divisional
stats and from three or four inde-l
pendent brigade stats
Entrances Are Guarded -
The meetings we're conducted in
private. Extreme precautions were
taken to prevent unauthorized per-
sons from entering the hall. A line
of men remained throughout the day
in front of Mansion House, and all
entrances to it were closely guarded
There was no display Of arms and no
attempt at interference with the
meetings. A small crowd OF the curi-l
Gus fingered in the vicinity of the
hall throughout the day and evening.
The meetings seemingly were only
slightly affected by the declaration OK
Richard Mulcahy, Minister Of Defense.
that every man attending would bel
suspended from the army. IT is csti-
mated that about go delegates were
present. a majority of them were
youthful. Very few OF them wore uni-i
forms. The attendance included some
members of the Belfast Brigade. II is.
said they came to Dublin not TO sup
port the purpose OF the meeting, but
to urge unity as essential for the pros
fecfion OF the northern Nationalists.
$50 Attend Sessions.
Mr.. Mulcahy declared to-day that ths
convention had been arranged by two
Of the Ave brigade commanders OF ths
army.
! The silence of canon Do Valera N
the face Of challenges by the news>
papers TO make known his attitude to-
ward the convention, seemed perplexinS
in political quarters to-day. Michael
Collins In a speech at Waterford to-day
challenged Mr.. DE Valera 10 reveal his
views and also to dissociate hrnself|
fron, such "mutinous statements as
were made last week by RodericS O'Corl-
nor director OF engineering OF heads
quarters staff of the Irish republican,
army. in asserting that to-dsy's cons
vention would be held despite orders tol
the contrary. ii
Mr.. Collins added that the greatest
argument with which he would be faced
AT the coming conference with ths
authorities In London would be Mr.. Dc
Valera and that gentleman's POLITICAL
followers. He said Sir James Craig.
the Ulster Premier, would not dream oc
coming into a union while the present
dissension prevailed. and II Mr.. De
Valera could unite the country under
his own leadership. accept the treaty
and agree to work for the Free State. he
(Colins) would gladly step aside. lie
added that he would not regret in such
n contingency that so heavy a burden
OF responsibility had been taken from
I ~