The New York herald., 1922-03-17
GRIFFITH FORBIDS
ARMY CONVENTION
Writes Letter to Forestall Eff
forts to Get Troops Out
of Control.

spectai cable TO THE NEW YORK HEaAip.
Copyright, 1929, By THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Dublin. March Is. J
Arthur Griffith, President Of the Dail
Eireann. peremptorily forbade tonight
the convention OF the Irish republican
army, which was being planned LOT
March &c. The prohibition, contained In
a letter to Richard Mulcahy, Minister OF
Defense. on the authority OF the unan-
imous action of the Dali. is the most
emphatic action yet exhibited by that
body and - designed to forestall any
effort to get the army out of govern
mental control.
The convention had been discussed
only casually until the battle OF Linn
erick' made a live topic. II was osten-
sibly planned with the object OF deter
mining the standpoint of the army on
the political situation: but grave sus-
picion existed that the convention was
merely another move on the part OF the
republicans to leave both the Provisional
Government and the present Dali CAD
met without the means OF enforcing
their authority.
"It is quite evident" said the Grif-
fifth letter. ito the unanimous Dali Cab
met, that the army convention contem-
plated for the 26th Us a proposed en-
deavor to remove the army from under
the control OF the Government elected
| by the people. which Is the Dali Eireann.
Such a purpose Is illegal: and you are
hereby Instructed that the holding OF
| this convention is forbidden
The letter is likely to arouse caustic
comments by the Republicans, but MT.
Griffith dulled their best weapon by the
| inclusion of the clause. which Is the
Dali Eireann." Mr.. Griffith also re-
Piled to DE Valera tonight. as to the
latter's attempt to get new electoral
! registration before the registration. Mr.
| Griffith branded De Valera's request as
| the move of an obstructionist. Tonight
| he reminds De Valera that the matter
arose in the Cabinet In November last.
while De Valera still was President; and
+, that DE Valera had inspectors make a
report which declared that there was no
ground for the Reputation of the pres
ent register. Mr.. Griffith also cites the
fact that the last four registrations took
minimum of Ave months. while the
| coming election Is only three months of.
! He brands De Valeras move as an at
tempt TO muzzle the electorate.
This St Patrick's Day finds Ireland
| in a position unfortunately not novel in
her history Tho two most popular Irish
| leaders are to deliver important
SpeeCneS, not Oirccteu against EHSiStlo'
but against each others parties. Mr..
Collins will speak at Skibberreen.
Ea mon de Valera will speak at Water
ford and at Thurles. Mr.. Collins is ex-
pected To continue his refutation Of De
valera's arguments. and De Valera. 1t
is thought. will attempt to justify the
| recent Limerick affair. The principal
| bomba rdment at meetings by the anti
/ treatyitcs will be led by the Republican
members OF the Dali
Meanwhile ST. Patrick's Day along the
border OF Ulster finds the inhabitants
! on both sides in most dangerous state
OF tension, with civil war imminent. The
mixed commission formed to investigate
the recent shooting at Clones Is abso-
iutely deadlocked owing to the stead
fast refusal of the northern Govern
ment to punish the special constables
responsible for the outrages.