THE ANGLO-IRISH TREATY, 1921
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES,
NEGOTIATIONS AND PERSONALITIES
INVOLVED IN THE ANGLO-IRISH
TREATY.
WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE
PARTITION OF IRELAND IN 1920?
SITUATION OF
PROTESTANTS IN
NORTHERN IRELAND
WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE
1916 RISING
& THE RISE
OF SINN FÉIN
WRITE A
PARAGRAPH
ON EACH
POINT
ULSTER UNIONIST
RESISTANCE TO HOME
RULE
WHAT FACTORS CONSOLIDATED
PARTITION AFTER 1920
• Anglo-Irish Treaty and the Boundary Commission.
• Development of a Catholic, Gaelic state in the South
after independence.
• Dominance of the Ulster Unionist Party in the
North.
• New Constitution in the South.
• The experience of World War II.
• The Republic of Ireland Act (1948) and the Ireland
Act (1949).
PRELIMINARY NEGOTIATIONS
• Preliminary negotiations began between De Valera
and Lloyd George. They met four times in London.
After that they corresponded. In these negotiations,
they outlined their demands:
– De Valera wanted a 32 county republic.
– Lloyd George wanted Ireland to remain within the British
Commonwealth as a dominion, keep Northern Ireland
and naval bases for the British Navy.
• These proposals were rejected by both the Cabinet
and the Dáil.
CHOOSING A DELEGATION
De Valera speaks to the Dáil,
August 1921
I have one allegiance only to the
people of Ireland, and that is to do
the best we can for the people of
Ireland as we conceive (imagine)
it… I would not like, therefore that
anyone should propose me for
election as President who would
think I had my mind definitely
made up on any situation that may
arise. I keep myself free to consider
each question as it arises – I never
bind myself in any other way.
• What does De
Valera ask of
the Dáil in this
source?
CHOOSING A DELEGATION –
THOSE WHO REFUSED
De Valera
Argued that his
position of President
would interfere with
negotiations but he
didn’t want to be
associated with a deal
that gave less than a
complete Irish state.
Cathal Brugha
Austin Stack
Militant
republican.
Refused to go to
London.
Militant
republican.
Refused to go to
London.
CHOOSING A DELEGATION –
THOSE WHO WENT
Michael Collins
Arthur Griffith
Erskine Childers
Unhappy that he
would now be
known to British
Intelligence but
saw it as his duty.
Held position of
President while
Dev in America.
Moderate in views.
Extreme republican.
Given roleto balance
Griffith’s moderate
views. Caused
distrust with Griffith
& Collins
CHIEF
NEGOTIATOR
CHIEF
NEGOTIATOR
SECRETARY
BRITISH DELEGATION
• The British delegation
was Prime Minister
David Lloyd George,
Winston Churchill,
Austen Chamberlain
and Lord Birkenhead. As
conservatives, they
were anti-Irish.
Why were the Anglo-Irish Treaty
negotiations controversial?
IRISH DELEGATION
• The Irish delegation
• De Valera wasn’t included in
were technically given
the delegation because:
full power to make
– He was head of state
decisions (envoy
– He needed to stay in Dublin to
keep more extreme republicans
plenipotentiaries) but
in check
de Valera still wanted
– His absence would be an excuse
them to report back on
to refer British proposals back to
proposals before they
Dublin.
were agreed.
• Later critics said he did not
want to be blamed for the
failure of the talks.
Instructions to Plenipotentiaries from the
Cabinet, 7 October, 1921
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
The Plenipotentiaries have full powers as defined in
their credentials.
It is understood, however, that before decisions are
finally reached on the main questions that a
dispatch (notice)notifying the intention of marking
these decisions will be sent to the Members of the
Cabinet in Dublin and that a reply will be awaited
by the Plenipotentiaries before the final decision is
made.
It is also understood that the complete text of the
draft treaty about to be signed will be similarly
submitted to Dublin and reply awaited.
In case of a break, the text of final proposals from
our side will be similarly submitted.
It is understood that the Cabinet in Dublin will be
kept regularly informed of the progress of the
negotiations.
Éamon de Valera
• What must
they wait for
before a
decision is
made on the
main issues?
• Do you think
they had a
clear role?
WEAKNESSES OF THE IRISH DELEGATION
DE VALERA’S ABSENCE – He was the only
person who understood the idea of ‘external
association’ of Ireland with the British
Commonwealth.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE
DELEGATES – This were confusing
and created conflict.
LOCATION – This gave
the British a
psychological
advantage.
EXPERIENCED
BRITISH
DELEGATION
OPENING STATEMENTS
If those limitations prove insuperable
(unconquerable), then the responsibility for
failure will rest, not with those at the
council table, but with others.
England’s policy in the past
has been to treat Ireland as
a conquered (defeated) and
subject country. If there is a
change in policy of
subordinating (keeping
down) Ireland to English
interests, then there
appears to be a possibility
of peace.
1. What does Lloyd
George say in his
opening statement?
2. What does Griffith
say about England’s
past policy?
3. How does the mood
differ between the
two statements?
THE ISSUES
• The issues to be decided by the
negotiations were:
– The constitutional status of
Ireland – how much
independence would Ireland get
and how would it be linked to
Britain?
– Partition and unification – would
Ireland be 26 or 32 counties?
– British defence requirements in
Ireland – there was a danger that
an independent Ireland might join
up with Britain’s enemies.
THE STRATEGIES
• If the negotiations broke down:
– The Irish delegation wanted to break on the question of
unity and the Ulster Question – whether the Six Counties
would be united with the rest of the country.
– The British delegation wanted to break on the Imperial
Question – whether Ireland would be part of the
Commonwealth or not.
• Each side believed that they were more likely to
receive support from their own people on these
issues.
THE NEGOTIATIONS
• The early discussions were slow, so sub-committees were set up.
• There was early agreement on British naval bases in Ireland, trade
and finance.
• The British agreed to allow a united Ireland if it remained a part of
the British Empire. Griffith favoured this but it was rejected by the
Northern Unionist leaders.
• De Valera proposed External Association – connected to Britain
but not part of the Empire – but that British rejected it.
• Agreement over the Oath of Allegiance – Members of the Dáil and
Senate would take it but it would recognise dominion status in
Ireland.
• On 6th December 1921, Lloyd George threatened war if the treaty
was not signed within three days.
SIGNING THE TREATY
The Irish delegation
signed the Treaty;
Griffith first, then
Collins, Duggan, Barton
and Duffy.
Did Collins agree
with the treaty?
What did he think
the results would be?
Will anyone be satisfied at
the bargain? Will anyone? I
tell you this – early this
morning I signed my own
death warrant. I thought at
the time how odd, how
ridiculous- a bullet may just
as well have done the job five
years ago… these signatures
are the first real step for
Ireland. If people will only
remember that: the first real
step.
TERMS OF THE TREATY
• It provided dominion status for Southern Ireland, giving it the
same constitutional status as Canada and other dominion
countries.
• Ireland would be known as the Irish Free State.
• The king’s representative in Ireland would be the GovernorGeneral.
• Oath of Allegiance would be taken by members of the Dáil
and the Senate.
• Three Treaty ports – Queenstown (Cobh), Berehaven, Lough
Swilly – were to be kept by the British Navy for defence.
• A Boundary Commission would decide the boundary or
border between Northern Ireland and the rest of Ireland.
REACTION TO THE TREATY
1. Who is the ‘vague’
person in this source?
2. In your opinion, does
the cartoon in the
source capture the
mood after the signing
of the Treaty? Explain
your answer.