Anglo-Irish Treaty Michael Collins (Irish leader)

collins in london delegate anglo-irish treaty negotiations.

the irish delegates london were, upon de valera s insistence, designated plenipotentiaries , meaning had full authority sign agreement on behalf of dáil government. treaty subject approval vote of full dáil.

the majority of irish treaty delegates, including arthur griffith (leader), robert barton , eamonn duggan (with robert erskine childers secretary general delegation) set headquarters @ 22 hans place in knightsbridge on 11 october 1921 , resided there until conclusion of negotiations in december. collins shared quarters @ 15 cadogan gardens delegation s publicity department, secretary diarmuid o hegarty, joseph mcgrath substantial intelligence , bodyguard personnel including liam tobin, tom cullen, ned broy, emmet dalton , joseph dolan of squad.

the british side represented pm lloyd george, colonial secretary winston churchill , f. e. smith, among others. 2 months of arduous wrangling ensued. irish delegation made frequent crossings dublin make progress reports , confer dáil colleagues. however, collins in correspondence , subsequent dáil debates expressed delegates frustration @ being unable obtain clear instructions whether or not should accept terms on offer , sign treaty.

in november, london peace talks still in progress, collins attended large meeting of regional ira commanders @ parnell place in dublin. in private conference informed liam deasy, florence o donoghue , liam lynch there have compromise in current negotiations in london. there no question of our getting demands making. advised lynch not bring out in full assembly. reviewing subsequent events, deasy later doubted wisdom of advice.

the negotiations resulted in anglo-irish treaty signed on 6 december 1921. agreement provided dominion status irish free state , relationship british commonwealth modelled after canada s. compromise, half-way between independent republic , province of empire.

the settlement vacated treaty of limerick of 1688 , overturned act of union recognising native irish legislature s independence. under bicameral parliament, executive authority remain vested in king exercised irish government elected dáil Éireann lower house . british forces depart free state forthwith , replaced irish army. along independent courts system, treaty granted level of internal independence far exceeded home rule had been sought charles stewart parnell or irish parliamentary party successors john redmond , john dillon.

it agreed counties large unionist population, concentrated in relatively small area in eastern ulster, have chance opt out of free state , remain under crown. irish boundary commission established draw border (which came encompass six-county region.) inclusion in free state subject vote of majority population in each county. collins anticipated no more 4 counties join northeastern statelet, making economically nonviable, , facilitate reunification of 32 counties in foreseeable future.

while fell short of republic d fought create, collins concluded treaty offered ireland freedom achieve freedom. offered chance remove gun irish politics , seek further independence through native government , legislature. nonetheless, knew elements of treaty cause controversy in ireland. upon signing treaty, birkenhead remarked may have signed political death warrant tonight . collins replied may have signed actual death warrant .