Negotiating the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the Irish Civil War
In this chapter you will learn about: • The Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations • The Dáil’s response to the terms of the Treaty • The split in Sinn Féin and the IRA • The Irish Civil War and its consequences
By the end of this chapter you will be able to: • Understand and discuss the controversies surrounding the Anglo-Irish Treaty • Appreciate the political divisions in the Dáil and among the public • Discuss the reasons why members of Sinn Féin supported or rejected the Anglo-Irish Treaty • Highlight the main events of the Irish Civil War and appreciate the bitterness that it caused
The Treaty Negotations De Valera Decides not to Attend the Talks
One of the very first controversies of the Anglo-Irish Treaty was de Valera’s decision not to attend the negotiations in London. The Dáil had appointed him President of the Republic in July 1921, and it was assumed that he would lead any delegation to negotiate with the British government over the future of Ireland. De Valera justified his decision to stay in Ireland, saying that he could monitor the IRA and ensure that they did not break the terms of the truce. He further argued that this would help the Irish delegation to avoid being forced to sign any agreement by the British as they would have to consult with him first.
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