New-York tribune., 1922-03-27
Insurgents in Secret Dull
lin Convention Said to
represent $4,000 Men
of Army Of 100000
Belfast Boycott to
Cover Six Counties
Collins Proposes to Step
Aside if the Provisional
President Will Agree to
Support the Free STATE
From The 1'rioune's Europeaa Bureau

From The Tribune's European Bureau
Copyright. 1922. New York Tribune Inc,
LONDON. March 26-The Irish
army mutineers, who met in secret
convention in Dublin to-day in de-
fiance of the Free State provisional
government, voted to repudiatc the
authority of the Dali Eireann.
through which the Free State con-
trolls the troops. and to maintain in
Ireland a separate republican army
to defend the republican movement
led by Eamon de Valera.
Although Richard Mulcahy. Min
lster of Defense in the Free State
Cabinet and chief of staff of the
army, had warned that those who
attended the meeting would be dis
missed from the Free State army,
about 200 delegates were present at
the sessions, that lasted all day and
until late tonight. The Mansion
House. where they assembled. was
closely guarded by troops, who ad-
mitted only holders of delegates
cards The Free State authorities
made no attempt to prevent the
meeting.
Military Split Forecast
The convention was called by five of
the fourteen divisional commanders Of
the Irish republican army and two Of
the five commanders OF separate bri-
gades. Some of the mutineers were
from the Dublin command. but the bulk
OF them were from the provinces Of
Munster and Connaught. II the d.
VISIONS and brigades of which the dele
gates were representatives follow the
conventions decision the republican
asMs will be split into two sections. Of
w&c, the Iargerg Will continue TO sup
port the free State government. The
Free State would have at its disposal
upward Of 100000 men, while the re,
pubiicans would control fewer than
10000. 1t is believed, however, that
many Of the army units represented at
the convention will refuse to line an
against the Free State, so that the
actual republican force may fall far
short Of the $4,000 estimate
In view of the strong feeling in the
rank and file of the army againg. n
final split in the organization, there is
no reason to fear that the mutineers
will take any immediate overt action
against the FREQ State, although ad-
mittedly the existence of separate
republican army will not add to the
harmony in Ireland
There are now FIVE bodies of troops
in Ireland-the Free State army. the
Republican army, the British army the
Ulster army and the Civic Guard, a
new police force controlled by tho
Dublin provisional government
Belfast Boycott Extended
DUBLIN, March 26 (By The Asso-
ciated Press The convention passed
resolution unanimously reaffirmiug
allegiance TO the Irish republic The
resolution also declared that the Re-
publican army should be under the su-
preme control of an executive commit
tee which shall draft a constitution for
submission at a subsequent conven-
tion.
Among other matters OF which the
convention took decisions and concern
ing which the executive committee viii
issue q full statement later was to
boycott Belfast and to extend the boy
cctt to the six northern counties of
Ireland
The silence Of De Valera in the face
OF challenges to make known his atti-
tude toward the convention seemed
perplexing in political quarters
Michael Collins, in speech at Water
ford to-day, challenged De Valera
to reveal his views and also to dissoci-
ate himself from such "mutinous state
ments" as were made last week by Rod
erick O'Connor, director of engineering
Of the headquarters staff Of the Irish
republican army, in announcing that to-
days convention would be held despite
orders to the contrary.
Collins added that the greatest argu-
ment with which he would be faced at
the coming conference with the author
tiles In London would be De Valera and
that gentlemens political followers.
He said Sir James Craig, the Ulster
Premier, would not dream of coming
into a union while the present dissen-
sion prevailed, and if De Valera could
unite the country under his own lead
ership, accept the treaty and agree to
work for the Free State he (Colins)
gladly would stop aside. He added
that he would not regret in such a con-
tingency that SO heavy burden of re-
sponsibility had been taken from him.