FROM TREATY TO CIVIL WAR

1. FROM TREATY TO CIVIL WAR Leaving Cert History

2. Negotiations July to October 1921. • By agreeing to talk, both sides would have to compromise. • David Llyod Georges (DLG) coalition government meant he was answerable to Conservatives. • Dev was answerable to pacifists like Griffith and hardliners like Brugha.

3. July 1921 Dev meets DLG in London • DLG offered Dominion Status for the 26 counties only with exceptions: • GB could move troops into Ireland at times of war • No interference with trade with GB. • Dev rejected these, talks ended, and he went home. • However by letter and telegram they agreed to form delegations.

4. The Irish Delegation Dev said he would not go because: • He could control militants at home • Delegates had to refer to him so they would not sign anything under pressure. Some say: • Others to take the blame • If he signed he had to support it.

5. The Irish Delegation • Militants like Brugha and Stack refused to go so they were never going to accept compromise. • Dev tried to balance between hardliner and moderate. • Collins went very reluctantly. • Griffith was the leader. • Robert Barton was a strict republican as was Childers who was to be secretary. • George Gavan Duffy and Eamonn Duggan were lawyers. • The Dáil voted them as ‘plenipotentiaries’ (could sign on their behalf) • Dev instructed them to offer ‘external association’ instead of partition.

6. The Irish Delegation • ‘External Association’ meant that we would leave the Empire and become a republic. • Then we would make an alliance with the Empire and the king would be the head of that alliance. • This was rejected as unionists already had their parliament and the whole idea was too convoluted to explain to the British people.

7. The British Delegation • The Liberals were represented by DLG and Winston Churchill. • The Conservatives by Lord Birkenhead and Austin Chamberlain. • Their brief was to protect Ulster’s position and keep Ireland in the Empire.

8. Negotiations October to December. Case Study • An Uneven Match • Leadership and experience • Location of the talks (London) • Imbalance of power. Big army in Ireland and IRA in trouble. • Millions had already died for the Empire. • Early on it became clear that sovereignty and partition would be the stumbling blocks. • There were tensions between Griffith and Childers who was pushing for a republic even though Childers was only the secretary. • From then on Griffith and Collins met privately with DLG. The others broke into sub-committees to discuss various issues.

9. Partition • DLG promised to make Craig accept an all-Ireland parliament in return for a letter from Griffith agreeing to the Crown as the head of an association of states of the Commonwealth. • DLG promised to resign if he could not deliver. • Craig would not even meet him but if DLG resigned, a Conservative would take over. • His secretary, Tom Jones suggested a Boundary Commission. • When they reported back to Dublin, the Cabinet agreed to the Boundary Commission. • At least it would bring many nationalists into the South. • DLG managed to persuade Collins that the Boundary Commission would leave Ulster so it could not survive economically. • Partition seemed to be resolved for the moment.

10. Sovereignty • Irish unhappy with Dominion Status. They argued that GB would not interfere in Canada as it was too big and too far away. • DLG proposed an Irish Free State with the same independence as Canada. If Ireland’s independence was reduced, so would Canada’s and they would not allow this. • DLG set a deadline. The NI parliament was to open on the 6th December. Agreement or war within 3 days? • He changed the oath to make it similar to Dev’s suggested one. • In Canada MPs had to swear ‘true faith and allegience’ to the king. • TDs would have to swear allegiance to their own constitution and to be faithful to the king.

11. Other Terms • Governer General would represent the Queen. • Queenstown, Berehaven and Lough Swilly. (Treaty Ports) still in British hands. • Special treatment for any religion banned.

12. Why did Collins accept? • IRA could not defeat British army but if the British army left it would be difficult for them to return. • He knew that the independence of the other dominions was increasing rapidly.

13. Dividing over the Treaty December 1921 to January 1922 • It had taken from July to December to reach agreement. • ‘truceleers’ were men who joined the IRA after the truce to get the glory. • They were often difficult to control. • Some IRA commanders robbed banks, forced people from their homes and even murdered them as ‘spies’ or ‘traitors’. Some just because they were protestant. • People feared lawlessness and were glad when the treaty appeared. • However dedicated republicans were not.

14. The Public Debate 19th December to 7th January

15. The Case Against • Hardliners like Brugha, Stack and the 6 women made it clear they would not accept the Treaty even if the Dail passed it. They preferred war. • These TDs argued: • Good men had died for a republic. • All TDs had taken an oath to the republic. • Moderates like Childers wanted a renegotiation but not war. Their arguments against: • Canada bigger and farther away • Impossible to remain neutral with the ports.

16. The Case For. • A war this time would have no element of surprise. Leaders were well known. Spy network was exposed. • The British would have the support of people at home and could be more ruthless. • Free state could be a “Stepping-stone” to a Republic. • The other Dominions would protect our independence or their own would be at risk • Far better than Home Rule • Popular support was behind the treaty and this may have changed some TDs mind when they went home for Christmas.

17. Civil War June1922 to May 1923 • Collins took Dublin Castle in January. • The British had until December 1922 to leave. They did. • The Provisional Government was headed by Griffith and Collins. • They had to set up an army, police force, judiciary and civil service. • A constitution was also needed. • The biggest problem was anti-treaty IRA

18. Anti-treaty IRA • Headquarters staff in Dublin supported Collins and Mulcahy. • Most country commanders were against. • Many IRA would settle for a Republic only. • The British didn’t help by leaving barracks to local commanders. • March, the Army Convention, led by Mellows and O Connor rejected the Dail. • April they seized the Four Courts.

19. The North • IRA violence continued during the truce to resist partition. • Sectarian violence against Catholics increased. • Collins met Craig several times but Craig was either unwilling or unable to stop it. • Collins arranged with anti-treaty IRA to send arms to the north. • He hoped this would help prevent the split.

20. DeValera’s Tatics. • Set up a new party to oppose the Treaty. • Talked about ‘wading through Irish blood’. • Collins and Dev made a pact to form a coalition government after the elections in July.

21. The British View • Churchill demanded an end to the Four Courts occupation. • They insisted on no change to the reference to the king and the oath. • Collins called off the pact wit irregulars. • Election June 1922 • 58 for 35 against the Treaty.

22. War Starts • Sir Henry Wilson, military advisor to Craig’s government, was killed by IRA. • Churchill ordered General Macready to attack the Four Courts. • The anti-treaty soldiers captured JJ O Connell, Deputy chief-of-staff of the Free State army. • The Civil war was on in earnest. • Fighting in Dublin lasted a week. Brugha was killed. Mellows and O Connor jailed. • By the end of July every town in Munster was taken. • 12 August Griffith died • 22 August Beál na mBláth

23. Cosgrave’s government • W T Cosgrave took over. • Dail gave his government special powers. Carrying firearms a capital offence. • The Civil war became a bitter war of atrocities. • TD Sean Hales was killed. • Mellows, O Connor and 2 others killed in revenge. • Childers executed along with 70 others. It worked. • April 1923 Liam Lynch killed and the new leader, Frank Aiken agreed to a ceasefire.