Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921 Flashcards
when was the Truce agreed by both sides?
11th July 1921
why did Britian agree to a truce?
- public opinion was uneasy at brutality of the war
- bloody sunday - B&Ts
- buring cork - auxilleries
- Anti-war agitiation began -
- LG realised have to offer terms to Republican leaders or escalate the war
- SF had to be taken seriously now -
- overwhelming democratic mandate (124 seats out of 128)
why was De Valera also under pressure to agree truce?
- IRA were loosing war
- Burning customs house May 1921 - 5 killed, 85 arrested
- By summer 1921 - IRA = 3000 vs British = 40,000
- irish population tired violence - chance if turned down talks not support IRA
when were the preliminary talks held?
between July - Ocotber 1921
who was involved in these initial talks?
DE Valera and lloyd George
how many times did they meet in July?
4 times in london
what did the british offer on 20th July?
dominion status
how would this status be limited though?
- free trade betwwen B & I
- B access and use of I’s air and naval facilities (Treaty Ports)
- limit on the size of the Irish Army
when did the Dail officially reject this prelimanary offer?
10th August via letter
what did De Valera propose instead?
'’external association’’
what was external association?
- Ireland could enjoy the freedom on an idependant state
- whilst not being part of the empire
- it would externally associated with britiain by a special alliance
what did the letter include?
- outlined govs strong position on insisting I remain empire
- fresh invitation to a conference in London
when and how did LG reject DeV’s solution?
letter on the 29th September 1921
who was on the Irish delegation?
- Griffith (lead)
- Collins
- Erskine Childers (secretary
- Barton
- 2 lawyers (Duggan, Duffy)
why was DeV not part of the Irish delagtion?
- help contain likely opposition from hardened republicnas (Stack, Brugha)
- didnt want to be tainted by association with an inevitable compromise
- gain an advantge over Collins
- by staying at home he could act as a final court of appeal agaisnt hasty decisions
why was DeV’s decision to stay at home a mistake?
- he ws only one who really understood external association
- ‘it was like playing a vital match with their ablest player in reserve’ - Cosgrave