Anglo – Irish Treaty Negotiations
1921
Part I: Preliminary Discussions
(July – October 1921)
Part II: Delegations & Negotiations
in London
(October – December 1921)
Part III: Dáil Debates & Vote on Treaty
(December 1921 – January 1922)
The Leaders
Dáil Eireann
British Government
Part I: Preliminary Discussions
DeValera & Lloyd George
(July – October 1921)
Background to Negotiations
• Escalating political and social unrest in Ireland throughout
1920 & 1921: British Government losing control of Ireland,
politically & militarily
• Truce and offer of negotiations made by British Government
in July 1921
• Truce comes into effect on 11th July, 1921
• Between July & October 1921, DeValera & Lloyd George meet
and correspond with each other in an attempt to resolve key
issues between British Government & Sinn Féin.
DeValera’s Talks with L. George (1920)
In 1920, DeValera held a series of
discussions with Lloyd George
about a possible settlement even
while the War of Independence
was raging throughout the
country.
The most persistent idea that
deValera espoused was that of
‘External Association’, whereby an
independent Ireland would be
choose to be ‘externally associated’
with Britain: thereby
accommodating Unionists in the
north of Ireland
Key Issues
Sovereignty
• The Proclamation of the Irish
Republic (1916) and the
Declaration of Independence
(1919) were the Republican
movement’s key manifestos.
• In these, Republicans committed
themselves to a fully-sovereign,
independent, united Ireland
Partition
• The Government of Ireland Act
(1920) remained Britain’s final
compromise towards the
situation in Ireland.
• In this provision, Ireland would
be divided, north & south, to
protect Unionist membership of
the UK and keep all of Ireland
within the British Empire
‘External Association’
• DeValera’s key concept which
envisaged an independent, united
Ireland, ‘externally associated’ to
Britain.
• This external association was
conceived as an attempt to
placate Unionists’ fears of an
Catholic-dominated,
independent Ireland.
Choosing a Delegation:
Controversy & Confusion
DeValera’s decision to remain in Dublin:
How would External Association be argued convincingly if its author was not
present?
DeValera’s qualification of ‘Envoys Plenipotentiaries’:
‘a main question’ or ‘the complete text of the draft treaty about to be signed’
(Refer back to Dublin)
To what extent did this secret instruction diminish the Sinn Féin delegation’s
ability to achieve their objectives in negotiation?
Prelude to Negotiations
Instructions to Irish
Delegation
British Proposals &
Representatives
‘Draft Treaty A’ = External
Association
Northern Ireland already
established: therefore ‘off the table’
DeValera’s qualification of ‘Envoys
Plenipotentiaries’:
Integrity of British
Commonwealth to be maintained
Lloyd George,
Winston Churchill,
Chamberlain
& Lord Birkenhead
to form front-line negotiation team.
‘a main question’ or ‘the complete text of the
draft treaty about to be signed’ (Refer
back to Dublin)
DeValera’s insistence at remaining at
home during negotiations.
(To distance the office of President of Dáil Eireann from
unacceptable proposals & create time-lapse to control
direction of negotiations)
Government of Ireland Act (1920)
-
In response to the escalating situation
throughout most of the country, northern
Unionists moved to cement their position within
the United Kingdom.
-
The result of these talks between Craig & Lloyd
George was the Government of Ireland Act
(1920), whereby the north of Ireland would
remain part of the UK as long they wished.
-
When the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed, one of
the key agreements was that the north of Ireland
could ‘opt out’ of the new Irish Free State if they
wished. They did so, two days after the
foundation of the Irish Free State on December
8th, 1921.
` Government of Ireland Act (1920)
•
•
•
Lloyd George hoped to bring about a
‘Home Rule all Round’ solution to
Ireland, thereby placating both
Republicans & Unionists as well as
international opinion.
Unionists demanded simple majority,
but PR was inserted into the Bill as
the voting method.
Unionists argued in favour of a 6county Northern Ireland, rather than
a 9-county Northern Ireland, thereby
ensuring their majority in the new
state.
Provisions of the Act:
-
-
-
A ‘Northern State’ of six counties & a
‘Southern State’ of 26 counties
Bicameral Parliaments, North &
South (Commons & Senate)
Each State would elect a government
& a Prime Minister
Both states would share a common
Viceroy to the King of England
Westminster would retain ‘Imperial
Powers’ over both states
A ‘Council of Ireland’ would be set up
to create a platform for discussion,
interaction & agreement between
both states.
Negotiations Begin
October 11th – December 6th
1921
Anglo – Irish Treaty Negotiations
1921
Sinn Féin Delegation
British Delegation
Arthur Griffith, Michael Collins, Robert Barton,
George Gavin Duffy, Eamon Duggan , Erskine
Childers.
Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, Lord Birkenhead ,
Austen Chamberlain
Issues of Contention
Offer of negotiation from British Government to Dáil Eireann in July 1921.
Truce declared on July 11th 1921.
Plenipotentiaries: Who should negotiate & what powers should they be granted?
“..negotiate and conclude … a treaty or treaties of settlement, association and
accommodation between Ireland and the community of nations known as
the British Commonwealth..”
‘Dominion Status’ v. ‘External Association’ : What was the ultimate aim of the
Sinn Féin delegation?
Partition, Unionism & Government of Ireland Act (1920): How would the Sinn
Féin delegation overcome the already-established Northern Ireland State?
Sinn Féin Delegation
•
•
•
Passionate but inexperienced
Removed from support of Dáil Éireann & Dáil Cabinet
Made up of moderates & extremists
British Delegation
Negotiations:
11th October – 6th December 1921
11th – 17th October:
British delegation outline strong proposals and reinforce their aim to maintain the integrity of British
Commonwealth. Sinn Féin delegation refute British claim over Ireland & offer considered
clarifications & responses. Little progress made.
24th October:
Griffith & Collins present the first draft of Irish proposals. ‘Republic’ is not used in this draft, and
discussions focus primarily on issue of defense.
2nd November:
Griffith accepts, in principle, Ireland’s membership of the British Commonwealth: ‘to recommend
recognition of the crown’ in return for “essential unity” of the Irish nation. Writes a note to
Lloyd George to underline this before the British PM meets Ulster Unionists. New draft of letter
on 2nd November declares that Ireland will join the Commonwealth and recognise the King “as
head of the proposed Association of Free States”
Negotiations:
11th October – 6th December 1921
2nd – 8th November:
Griffith & Collins continue to struggle with ‘External Association’ concept, with the previous
discussions and notes having moved the position more towards ‘Dominion Status’.
8th November:
Tom Jones, Lloyd George’s secretary proposed the setting up of a ‘Boundary Commission’ to look at
the border between a future Irish State (26 counties) & Northern Ireland (established by Govt. of
Ireland Act 1920)
12th November:
22nd November:
Negotiations:
11th October – 6th December 1921
Final Proposals:
December 1st – 5th:
December 6th:
Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921
Dáil Debates & Vote on Treaty
December 8th 1921 – January 7th
1922
Dáil Debates Anglo-Irish Treaty
M. Collins (Pro-Treaty)
E. deValera (Anti-Treaty)
• Freedom to achieve
freedom
• Control of Internal Affairs
• Removal of British forces
from Ireland
• Oath of Allegiance
• Partition
• Dominion Status
Dáil Vote on Anglo-Irish Treaty
7th January 1922
Republican Ideal
Irish Free State: “freedom
to achieve freedom”
Oath of
Allegiance
unacceptable
Partition
unacceptable
Boundary Commission to
examine Partition Border