The Truce August 1921

The Truce 1921

[Note added 2011.

Following the invitation from the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Lloyd George, and the implementation of the Truce on July 11th 1921, President de Valera travelled to London on July 12th to meet with Lloyd George.
The first meeting took place on July 14th. During the following seven days four meetings were held between the two leaders.

(Lloyd George had referred to de Valera as "the Chieftain of the vast majority of the Irish Race.).

The Nationalist and Leinster Times published reports issued from Sinn Fein concerning the meetings. Then...]

Nationalist and Leinster Times. (extracts from a very long article.)

August 1921.

LLOYD GEORGE'S OFFER TO IRELAND.

OFFER UNACCEPTABLE TO PRESIDENT DE VALERA.
BUT STILL HOPE OF A SETTLEMENT.

Britain's War Debt and Military Pensions.
Fiscal Autonomy Conceded.
But what about Partition ?.
Proposals from the British Government.

10 Downing Street,
To: President Eamon De Valera.

Sir,
I send you herewith the proposals of the British Government, which I promised you by this evening. I fear that they will reach you rather late, but I have only just been able to submit them on behalf of the Cabinet to the King.

I shall expect you here to-morrow at 11.30 a.m., as arranged at our last meeting.

I am,
Your obedient servant,
(signed) D. Lloyd George.

THE DESIRE FOR PEACE.

The British Government are actuated by an earnest desire to end the unhappy division between Great Britain and Ireland which have produced so many conflicts in the past, and which have once more shattered the peace and well-being of Ireland at the present time.
They long, with his Majesty the King, for a satisfactory solution on those age long problems which for generations embarrassed our forefathers, as they now weigh heavily upon us". and they wish to do their utmost to secure that "every man of Irish birth, whatever be his creed and wherever be his home, should work in loyal co-operation with the free communities on which the British Empire is based. Etc. etc.

[the full text of the proposal is available at 20 July 1921 - DIFP<http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.difp.ie/viewdoc.asp%3FDocID%3D141&sa=U&ei=wgvdTrLtMM-FhQeArLjCBQ&ved=0CBEQFjAB&usg=AFQjCNH1ZI8RQJgGH3H6jTB0d1s_tMmkzw> ]

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Rejected. August 1921.

[Note added 2011, On July 21st President de Valera met with Lloyd George for the last time, he informed Lloyd George, that after conferring with the colleagues he had travelled over with he had no choice but to reject the
proposals for the Treaty.

de Valera along with his secretary Kathleen O' Connell had travelled to London with Arthur Griffith, Robert Barton, Austin Stack, Count Plunkett, Erskine Childers, Doctor Robert and Mrs Farnan , Castledermot, ( in 1962, Dr. Farnan donated his 300 acre farm and Castle to the Cistercian community of monks, now known as Bolton Abbey, President de Valera laid the foundation stone of the new church in 1964!..) ). At the meeting of the 21st July President de Valera told Lloyd George that he was willing, upon his return to Ireland, to put the proposals to Dail Eireann.
Many years later Dev would recall that Lloyd George threatened him with renewed war on that day...."Do you not realise that this means war, Mr de Valera ?, I could put a British soldier in Ireland for every man , woman
and child in the country.
de Valera replied, "ah yes, but the problem is that you would have to keep them there".]

Nationalist and Leinster Times.
August 1921.

IRISH LEADER'S REPLY.

British Control Repudiated.

President de Valera on behalf of the Ministry of Dail Eireann, presented the following letter at 10 Downing Street, at noon on August 11th through Commandant Robert Barton. Office of the President, Mansion House, Dublin. August 10th 1921.

To: The Right Hon. David Lloyd George,
10 Downing Street,
Whitehall, London.

Sir,
On the occasion of our last interview I gave it as my judgement that D'il Eireann could not and that the Irish people would not accept the proposals of your Government as set forth in the draft of July 20th, which you had presented to me. Having consulted my colleagues, and with them given these proposals the most earnest consideration, I now confirm that judgement.
etc. etc.

[Note added 2011 by Michael Purcell , tomorrow the 6th December 2011 is the 90th Anniversary of the signing of the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. For the first time the original Treaty Document and many other documents will be made available for viewing by the public. The documents will be displayed on the website of the National Archives: http://treaty.nationalarchives.ie/

The above is a true and accurate transcript of the original document.

From Old newspapers in the PPP.

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