Omaha daily bee., 1922-03-28
Republican
Army Staff
Walks Out
Officers at Athlone Quit Bar.
racks After Refusing to
Obey Orders From Gen.
eral Headquarters.
LOYAL to New Committee

Dublin. March 27.-The brigade
staff OF the Irish republican army a,
/ Athlone today lett the military bar
racks there after having refused 10
obey orders from general headquar-
ters. The men declared that they
recognized only the new executive
committee chosen Sunday in the
meeting here.
Up TO the present. time the men ot
the ranks OF the brigade are remains
ing loyal TO general headquarters,
! Ulster Accepts Invitation.
London, March 27.-The accept.
ances today by the Ulster govern.
ment OF the invitation 10 attend the
Irish conference in London cleared
the way for gathering Wednesday
at which the British government will
make a determined effort to bring
the North and South TO accord OF
some basis which will make for peace
i'll ireland.
! Arthur Griffin, Michael Collins
aud Eamon ], Duggan will represent
the South and Sir James Craig, the
Ulster premier, and several members
OF his cabinet the North. The Brit
ish representative will be Winston
Spencer Churchill. the imperial
colonial secretary and other mem
bers OF the government and perhaps
Premier Lloyd George himself.
Whether the imperial government
has any plan of its own to put for
ward has not been divulged. but
there is talk in official circles tina;
the government will suggest truce
Oh the border to give theasouthern-
efs and the Ulsterites ample time to
discuss basis for the settlement of
the frontier and other vcxed ques-
tons.
Collins Attacks Craig.
| Neither the Ulsterites nor the free
staters appear to be eager for the
conference. Mr.. Collins, in a state
ment issued in Dublin this afternoon.
expressly disclaimed any desire on
the part of the provisional govern
ment for it. At the same time he
attacked Sir James Craig for alleged
breach of faith in connection with an
agreement reached at their recent
meeting. His reference was in con
nection with the promise of Si"
James in reinstate Catholic workers
expelled from Belfast.
Some fears were expressed that
the statement OF Mr.. Collins was
calculated to jeopardize the confer.
ence, but students of the Irish situa
ton advanced the opinion that Sir
James Craig would not take it tc
heart, but would assume it was
made for political purposes in the
south, where the followers of Eamonn
De Valera might try to take political
capital out of meeting of the free
staters with the Ulster premier. A
dispatch from Belfast late this eve
ming said Sir James would reply to
the statement of Mr.. Collins in the
Ulster parliament tomorrow.
The Irish free state bill passed its
third and final reading in the house
of lords today.
Forbidden Convention Held.
Dublin, March 27.-(By A. P.)-
The convention OF Irish republican
army members, which had been for
hidden by the Dali Eireann cabinet.
ended its lengthy session late last
night without exciting any outward
demonstration.
The provisional free state govern
ment made no attempt to interfere
with the proceedings and has not
definitely stated it will take any ac.
ton, although if is generally sup
posed that those who attended will
De treated as having separated them
selves from the rest OF the army and
their names may possible be stricken
from the army rolls.