FOREIGN AND
ANGLO-IRISH POLICY
6th Year History
Cumann na nGaedheal’s Foreign Policy:
Making the Treaty Work
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Anglo-Irish relations important
because:
Nearest and powerful neighbour
Controlled the North.
Trade and emigration.
Trying to establish sovereignty
within the Treaty
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Cosgrave insisted on an Irishman and as Governor
General.
This was not the case in other dominions.
Neither Timothy Healy nor James MacNeill tried to
interfere in government decisions.
Irish passports were introduced despite British
objections.
Ireland joined the League of Nations despite British
objections.
In 1926 Ireland, South Africa and Canada got Britain to
accept the Balfour Declaration.
This stated that all members of the Commonwealth
were of equal status and led to the Statute of
Westminster.
1931 The Statute of Westminster
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A dominion parliament could repeal
any law previously passed for them
by the British Parliament.
Collins had been right, Treaty had
proved a stepping stone, republic
now a possiblity.
British Commonwealth
Assessment
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These achievements
were substantial.
Privately Dev
admitted that the Free
State government had
done ‘a magnificent
job’
However they were
not easily understood
by the electorate.
De Valera’s Foreign and
Anglo-Irish Policy:
Dismantling the Treaty.
De Valera’s approach:
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Made himself Minister
for External Affairs.
Dev was active in the
League of Nations
because:
Emphasised
sovereignty
Kudos (praise) at
home
Friendly nations would
be useful when he
dismantled the Treaty
Bit by Bit
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First the Oath was abolished.
Downgraded the Governor General. Maynooth
shopkeeper represented the king.
Refusal to pay the land annuities led to the
economic war.
The Senate was dominated by C na G. Delayed a
lot of Dev’s bills. They delayed the bill abolishing
themselves for 2 years until 1936.
When Edward VIII abdicated Dev took the
opportunity to remove all references to the king
from the Free State constitution.
Bit by Bit
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External
Association had
been achieved.
Bunreacht na
hÉireann made us
a republic in all
but name
GB was
preoccupied with
Hitler
1938 Anglo-Irish Agreement
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Both Dev and Chamberlain wanted reconciliation
before war began.
The Coal-Cattle pacts had ended the economic
war in 1935.
Talks in London resulted in:
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£10 million in compensation
Treaty ports returned.
3 year free trade agreement.
Chamberlain hoped this would result in a defence
treaty allowing GB to use Irish ports but Dev
demanded an end to partition. No deal.