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
what were the weaknesses of the Irish Delgation?
- ambiguity of the status ‘peinipotentiaries’ -
- written had full power reach agreement
- verbally refer home before signinng
- Collins and Griffith were unhappy with the statuses limitations
- delagtion was divided
- Childers vs Collins and Griffith
- no detailed instructions as to what terms they should seek
who waas the British delagation?
- Lloyd George - ‘welsh wizard’
- Austen Chamberlain
- Birkenhead
- Churchill
what were the strengths of the British delagtion?
- talented and united
- clear direction for negotiation (SF Accept crown and empire) allowed them to dominate
- the whole delagtion could have been prime minister
what was one weakeness of the British delagation?
- vulnerbale to Ulster question -
- Dail had sympathy of a large British public section on the subject of unification
- put LG akward position
- Dail had sympathy of a large British public section on the subject of unification
when did the negotiations begin and end?
11th October- 6th December 1921
what were the 3 big issues that needed resolved?
- Security and Defence
- Partition
- Consitutional Status
how was security and defence resolved?
easily, setlled by the provision of naval bases in Ireland, later know as treaty ports
who and why did they disagree to this provision?
- Childers
- it removed Ireland’s ability to remain neutral
what was LG’s clever neogtiiating strategy?
divided the negotiations into ‘sub-conferences’
what was the divison’s affect?
- it side-lined the hard-lined and uncompromsising Childers
- allowed British talk to Griffith and Collins the two moderates more freely.
what was the solution to the issue of partition?
Boundary Commission - review and redraw border
how did LG get Griffith to agree to this proposal by Tom Jones?
- threatened resigniation as PM - Bonor Law PM
- he promised that he would ensure to boundary commission would re-unite ireland
when did Griffith give his written consent that talks would not break over Ulster?
12th November
he did LG also persuade to accept the Boundary Commission?
Collins
what issue was there deadlock over?
Constitutional status
why was there dealock on this issue?
- British wanted to protect the British empire and avoid giving a boost to independacne movement (INIDA)
- so they kept rejecting Irish’s plea for external association
how did LG finally bring talks to a close on 6th December?
Contrived ultimatum:
- status within the empire
- or war within 3 days
what was his famous gesture?
held up 2 alternative letter he had prepared for Craig
what did these letter include?
- Articles of Agreement
- announcing resumption of war in 3 days
how did LG also soften his line with Griffith further?
- right to protect Irish industry with tariffs on British imports
- agreed to re-write Oath of Allegiance
was LG and British delagtion succesful?
yes, they succesfully wore down the resisitance of the Irish delagtion until they succumbed to the pressure and signed the treaty.
did they consult De Valera before they signed?
no!
