Anglo-Irish Relations
1922 - 1932
The ‘Restless Dominion’
Early Irish Foreign Policy
1919 - 1921
1st Dáil Eireann
• Issued the ‘Declaration of
Independence’ to the “free
nations of the world” seeking
recognition
Paris Peace Conference
•
Seán T. O’Kelly was sent to the
Paris Peace Conference in 1919.
•
Although unsuccessful in achieving
official recognition, O’Kelly’s work
can be seen as a forerunner of
official diplomatic relations from
1921 on.
•
Both France & USA were unwilling
to recognise the Irish Republic at
this time, as their alliance with the
UK was central to the Paris Peace
Conference.
• Sent representatives to Berlin &
Rome seeking recognition
• DeValera travelled extensively
throughout the USA during 1919
& 1920, seeking recognition for
the Irish Republic.
Key Personalities
W.T. Cosgrave
1923 - 1932
Lloyd George
British P.M.
1916 - 1922
Stanley Baldwin
British P.M.
1924 – 1929
Neville Chamberlain
British P.M.
1937 - 1940
Eamon deValera
1932 - 1948
Winston Churchill
British P.M.
1940 - 1945
Key Events in Anglo-Irish Relations
1923 - 1949
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Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921)
Anglo-Irish Agreement (1925)
Cumann na nGaedhael Government
Balfour Declaration (1926)
1922 - 1932
Statute of Westminster (1931)
Anglo-Irish Economic War (1932 – 1938)
• Abdication of King Edward VIII
•
•
•
•
•
Bunreacht na hEireann (1937)
Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement (1938)
Neutrality & the ‘Emergency’ (1939 – 1945)
Republic of Ireland Act (1948)
Ireland Act (1949)
Constitution Amendment Act
&
External Relations’ Act (1936)
The ‘Restless Dominion’
1923 - 1932
Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921)
Imperial Conferences (1923) & (1926)
League of Nations (1923 – 1924)
Anglo-Irish Agreement (1925)
Cumann na nGaedhael
– Consolidation & Modest Expansion of Autonomy
Anglo-Irish Policy 1923 - 1932
•
Young, small democracy with limited political
or economic independence
•
Dominion of British Commonwealth:
membership of British Imperial Conferences
1923 & 1926
•
Joined League of Nations (1923) Registered
Anglo-Irish Treaty with League of Nations’
Secretariat (1924)
•
Boundary Commission
Trade Agreement (1925)
•
Balfour Declaration (1926)
Westminster (1931)
Anglo-Irish
Statute of
W.T. Cosgrave
President of the Executive Council
1923 - 1932
Foreign Policy Achievements of Cumann na nGaedhael 1923 –
1932:
The ‘Restless Dominion’
Constraints
Achievements
A. Irish Free state was a dominion
of the British Commonwealth
1.
Joined the League of Nations &
successfully registered Anglo-Irish
Treaty with League Secretariat
2.
Worked successfully within the
Imperial Conferences of 1923 &
1926 to bring about the ‘Balfour
Declaration’ which in turn led to the
Statute of Westminster (1931)
3.
Normalised relations with the UK
while still earning the title of the
‘Restless Dominion’
B.
90% of Irish Free State trade was
with Britain
C.
Large ethnic Irish population
living & working in Britain
D. Britain was its nearest neighbour
W.T. Cosgrave with Irish Free State delegation to League of Nations
Impacts of Cosgrave’s Anglo-Irish
Policy
(1923 - 1932)
• Joining the League of Nations had successfully opened up a vital second avenue of Irish
Foreign Policy
• Registering the Anglo-Irish Treaty with the League of Nations’ Secretariat had begun a
process of evolving the relationship between the Irish Free State & UK
• The Imperial Conferences of 1923 & 1926 were instrumental in bringing about the Balfour
Declaration, which subsequently led to the Statute of Westminster. The Irish Free State
delegation were central to these efforts.
• The Boundary Commission & Anglo-Irish Agreement (1925) was the only real failure of
Cosgrave’s tenure, making partition more defined and permanent.