Reasons for the Truce: IRA Weakness

Question 1

Michael Collins to Chief Secretary for Ireland Greenwood

Answer 1

> “We would not have lasted for more than 3 weeks”-
Michael

> Hart suggests that Collins was pessimistic in this view but he was correct in pointing out that there would be a change in the military balance

Question 2

IRA GHQ Raid

Answer 2

In March 1921 the Crown Forces raided the GHQ showing that the British were improving their intelligence gathering on the IRA.

Question 3

Reduced IRA Size

Answer 3

> While General MacCready was going to receive another 100,000 men
5,500 out an estimated force 0f 7,500 had been imprisoned on the IRA’s side by May 1921

Question 4

Regional discrepancies

Answer 4

> English quotes an Longford IRA leader “we had arms for only a fraction of the men”
The IRA in Cork and Tipperary had expressed that they could fight for years while others, such as the Dublin IRA thought the opposite.