Treaty Debates (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The Treaty Debates was a series of debates of the Second Dáil
sitting in Dublin between the supporters and opponents of the Treaty signed on 6 December 1921 between representatives of the Irish Republic
and the coalition government of Lloyd George
. The Treaty had been negotiated by Irish envoys with plenipotentiary powers and required to be ratified by the Dáil and the British Houses of Parliament
. The Treaty was approved on 7 January 1922 by a narrow margin of 64 to 57 (see Anglo-Irish Treaty Dáil vote
).
The debates ran from 14 December 1921 to 7 January 1922 but were not publicised until 1972, 'in all their aggression and rawness'. They comprise a vital resource on the psychology of the Irish War of Independence
and show the varying ideals that sustained the Sinn Féin
deputies. Definitions of their understanding of their mandate in 1918 and 1921, and of the Republic
itself, are interspersed with the practicalities of devolving power from London to Dublin. The narrow division led to the outbreak of the Irish Civil War
on 28 June 1922.
Second Dáil
The Second Dáil was Dáil Éireann as it convened from 16 August 1921 until 8 June 1922. From 1919–1922 Dáil Éireann was the revolutionary parliament of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic. The Second Dáil consisted of members elected in 1921...
sitting in Dublin between the supporters and opponents of the Treaty signed on 6 December 1921 between representatives of the Irish Republic
Irish Republic
The Irish Republic was a revolutionary state that declared its independence from Great Britain in January 1919. It established a legislature , a government , a court system and a police force...
and the coalition government of Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. The Treaty had been negotiated by Irish envoys with plenipotentiary powers and required to be ratified by the Dáil and the British Houses of Parliament
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
. The Treaty was approved on 7 January 1922 by a narrow margin of 64 to 57 (see Anglo-Irish Treaty Dáil vote
Anglo-Irish Treaty Dáil vote
The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in London on 6 December 1921. Dáil Éireann voted on the treaty on 7 January 1922, following a debate through late December 1921 and into January 1922.-Result:Of the 125 Teachtaí Dála , 121 cast their vote in the Dáil...
).
The debates ran from 14 December 1921 to 7 January 1922 but were not publicised until 1972, 'in all their aggression and rawness'. They comprise a vital resource on the psychology of the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
and show the varying ideals that sustained the Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
deputies. Definitions of their understanding of their mandate in 1918 and 1921, and of the Republic
Irish Republic
The Irish Republic was a revolutionary state that declared its independence from Great Britain in January 1919. It established a legislature , a government , a court system and a police force...
itself, are interspersed with the practicalities of devolving power from London to Dublin. The narrow division led to the outbreak of the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
on 28 June 1922.