Debating The Treaty Flashcards
How did De Valera respond to the treaty?
6-8th December : De Valera was furious that they signed without his permission
De Valera publicly condemned the treaty, Collins got the IRB to back it
8th December - the dail cabinet votes 4 to 3 to send it to be debated and voted on in dail Eireann
How was the treaty debated and what was the pro-treaty argument?
14th December 1921- 7th January 1922 : with a short break for Christmas TDS in dail debated on treaty -evenly divided for and against
Few TDS who supported the treaty actually liked it but accepted it because it was the best we could get
Griffith argued argued it gave us much more independence than home rule,we would have our own flag, army and tariffs
Kevin o Higgins said other dominions like canada would defend against British interference
Collins said it gave us “the freedom to achieve freedom” because other dominions were getting more
Richard Mulcahy said the IRA had not won the war while it had the advantage of secrecy- could it win if the war started again
Most irish people wanted peace and would not support a renued war
What were the anti - treaty arguments ?
Anti treaty TDS were divided into moderates and extremists
Moderates like de valera wanted the dail to reject the treaty and renew negotiations
De Valera produced alternative treaty “document no. 2” with external association not dominion status
It annoyed both anti and pro-treaty sides so it was dropped
Moderates urged TDs against the treaty
- dominion status gave too little independence - having king as head of state would let British interfere - unlike Canada and Australia Ireland was close so they could easily interfere
Extremist republicans wanted dail to resume war- They argued …
- the Republic had been declared in 1916 and confirmed in 1919 so it vould not be undone (Mary macsweeny) - if TDs made oath of allegiance to King they would break the one they made to the Republic (brugha) - only a republic would do if dail accepted they would go on fighting
How did the vote go?
Over Christmas break a few TDs found constituents wanted peace and voted for treaty
On 7th January 1922 the dail voted by 64 to 57 in favour of the treaty
De valera resigned as president and Griffith was elected head of government
