The Irregulars

Above : Picture Of Lloyd George

ALTHOUGH, by the terms of the Treaty, Ireland had gained much more than would, a few years previously, have been deemed possible, yet she had not achieved all that she desired. Besides the loss of the Six Counties, there were other grievances of which the Oath of Allegiance, modified as it was, loomed largest in the popular mind. Then there was a Governor to be appointed by England to represent the king, and authority to be retained over certain Irish ports, which were naval bases for the British Fleet, to be used in coast defence.
Still, there was general surprise when Mr. de Valera gave his opinion that no settlement which fell short of the complete independence for Ireland should be accepted. If that were so, it would seem that, in view of Mr. Lloyd George’s distinct warning, that under no circumstances would Great Britain grant independence to Ireland, it would have been useless to send any delegates to London at all. Yet their going had been arranged for by Mr. de Valera himself.

Below : Picture Of Michael Collins

In spite of this, when the question of the ratification of the Treaty was brought before Dail Eireann (January 7th, 1922), the extreme republican doctrine found many supporters. It was urged that the Treaty had been signed ” under duress,” because the alternative was a continuance of the war. No doubt this was as true as it would be if stated of almost any other Treaty ever signed, but not more so. Finally, the Treaty was ratified by a majority of only seven—64 voting for it, 57 against. A Provisional Government was formed under the leadership of Mr. Michael Collins, and the British officials, police and soldiers began to leave the country. Dublin Castle was handed over to the Provisional Government. It was generally believed at first that the Anti-Treaty party would confine their opposition to words only, within or outside of the Da.il, but such was far from being the case.

The long years of strife had taught an evil lesson to the people of Ireland. What they had to gain from Great Britain by reason they had extorted f her, as it seemed to them and as to some extent was the bv ‘force. The argument of the gun was now to be tried against’ their own fellow countrymen. During the debates on the Treaty an alternative to it had been suggested by Mr. de Valera and approved by many of his followers. This was embodied in what was afterwards known as ” Document Number Two.”
What it proposed was “External Association” with the British Empire. But, as its articles included one which declared that “for purposes of the Association,” which was to consist of ” the states of the British Commonwealth,” ” Ireland shall recognise his Britannic Majesty as head of the Association “; another, which guaranteed “naval facilities” in certain Irish harbours to the British Government; and yet another which permitted the separation of Northern Ireland from the rest of the country, should she desire this, and the continuance of her status as under the Act of 1920, the difference between it and the arrangement made by the delegates in London did not seem very great.
This document was now laid aside, and the issue was, declared to be between the Treaty and a perfectly independent Irish Republic.

Active resistance began in the army. In January, 1922, almost immediately after the ratification of the Treaty, a secret Military Committee was established in Dublin, chiefly by Mr. Rory O’Connor, a young engineer. By it, mutinies were to be organised in the Free State Army, and arms to be acquired and held in readiness. Funds and supplies were, of course, needed for all this, and, to obtain them, banks, shops and factories began to be raided.
The members of the Provisional Government found them¬selves in a difficult position. Those who now opposed them were, not only their countrymen, but often their old comrades, who had fought by their sides in the struggle just ended. They could not regard or treat them as they had regarded and treated the British forces, or even the Irishmen who were the instru¬ments of British power; nor would public opinion, in these early-weeks, have tolerated their doing so. Thus, they long hesitated, and remained almost inactive, while disorder spread over the country, and on the borders of the Six Counties Catholics and, Protestants met in deadly strife.