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.
