6th Year History

FOREIGN AND ANGLO-IRISH POLICY

Cumann na nGaedheal’s Foreign Policy: Making the Treaty Work

Anglo-Irish relations important because:

Nearest and powerful neighbour Controlled the North. Trade and emigration.

Trying to establish sovereignty within the Treaty

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

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

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:

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

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

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

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: £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.