The Morning Post of Thursday published a remarkable docu- ment
containing the articles of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. The articles establish the Supreme Council " as the sole Government of the Irish Republic." Clearly if this oligarchy is allowed to remain in existence, the debates on the Home Rule Bill arc a beating of the air. The
Supreme Council though it exercises full powers professes to govern provisionally, that is to say, " until a permanent Repub- lican Government is established." The Council consists of 15 members. The original 11 members choose 4 additional members whose names are known to the Supreme Council alone. The 15 are assigned powers of life and death, power to levy taxes, raise loans, make war and peace and negotiate and ratify treaties with foreign Powers. The conduct of military operations is delegated to the Military Council of the Brotherhood. The army is estimated at about 110,000 men.
