Anglo Irish Treaty

When negotiations began on the 6th of November, the cabinet debated over its success and over the terms of the new Anglo Irish treaty. The main issues discussed in the negotiations were the partition of Ireland, and Irelands relationship with Britain and it’s empire. The British feared that an independent Ireland might undermine their security. They wanted Ireland kept in the Empire as a “Dominion”.
   
    The Anglo Irish treaty consisted of 18 articles. The main ones were: Ireland was to be called the Irish Free state, and was to be a Dominion of the British commonwealth. All Td’s were to take an oath of allegiance to the crown. The Free State was to let the British navy use three of its ports and its was to pay its share of debt for WW1.

    Two sides emerged as a result. The anti treaty and the pro treaty. The anti treaty composed of extreme and moderate republicans. The extreme republicans rejected the treaty as it didn’t grant them  republic. They stated that the republic had to be declared in the 1916 proclamation. The delegates that negotiated the treaty betrayed the republic. They wouldn’t accept the Dails vote and intended to use force where they deemed necessary.

    Moderate republicans believed they treaty could have been better negotiated. They rejected the King as head of state, and believed Britain would continue interfering in Irish affairs. They believed Ireland could not follow an independent foreign when Britain occupied the “Treaty ports” of Queenstown, Brehaven, and Lough Swilly. De Valera wanted to have the Dail reject the treaty. He produced an alternative Treaty called “Document No 2” with External Association instead of Dominion statues. It annoyed pro and anti treaty sides and so was later dropped.

    Those in favour of the treaty stated that is was the best deal Ireland could get. If a new war was to break out it would fail, as the leaders were recognisable. They argued that the treaty was a stepping stone to a future republic. They also stated that Dominion statues was better than current Home Rule. Ireland would have its own flag and army and could impose tariffs. Pro treaty was considered more popular as the Irish public wanted peace and would not support a renewed war.

    All deputies had spoken by the time the vote was taken on the 7th of January 1922. During the Christmas break many Td’s were influenced by the opinions of the people who wanted peace. They decided reluctantly to vote in favour of the treaty as a result. The Dail voted to accept the treaty by 64 votes to 57. In response de Valera resigned as President and Griffith was elected to head the Dail government. Collins became head of the new British government in Dublin Castle. However during this switch of power, the country drifted towards civil war.

   
     In March the IRA called a conference to discuss the treaty. The treaty went ahead even when the Minister for defence Richard Mulcathy banned it, they rejected the treaty. They declared a war of independence separate from the Dail and Sinn Fein government. Extreme republicans lead by Rory O’Conner took over the four courts and military barracks. De Valera campaigned against the treaty with extremist speeches. In response to this the British government pressured Collins. Upon the seizure of General O’Connell of the Free State army, Collins had an excuse to retaliate. On the 27th of June 1922 Collins ordered the Free State army to attack the republicans or Irregulars garrisoned in the four Courts.

    The civil war continued until Frank Aiken agreed to a ceasefire in May 1923. 1,000 republicans were imprisoned in August 1923. About 4,000 people died, including civilians. The centre of Dublin was destroyed. Money badly needed for social problems was spent on repairing the damage. Most recognisably the Sinn Fein party split into the pro treaty Cumann na nGaedheal (in 1933 becoming Fine Gael) and the anti treaty party Sinn Fianna Fail, set up in 1926 by de Valera.

    This essay clearly shows the treaty’s responsibility for the civil war of 1922-1923. It explains how and why the division occurred between pro treaty and anti treaty sides. It gives the effects of the war of Independence on society and as well it shows how the formation of modern day political parties came about. Though the treaty was seen as a success for Irelands struggle against Britain, it also brought about an increase in national tension which was then converted into a bitter and violent civil war.