Anglo-Irish Treaty

The treaty was signed in London by representatives of the British government and envoys plenipotentiary of the Irish Republic (i.e., negotiators empowered to sign a treaty without reference back to their superiors) on December 6, 1921. Three-fold ratification of the treaty by Dáil Éireann, the House of Commons of Southern Ireland and the British Parliament was required. The Irish side were split on the Treaty, and it was only narrowly ratified in the Dáil. Though duly enacted, the split produced the Irish Civil War which was ultimately won by the pro-treaty side.

Further reading

• Lord Longford, Peace By Ordeal (long out of print)
• Tim Pat Coogan, Michael Collins (ISBN 0091741068)
• Tim Pat Coogan, DeValera (ISBN 009175030X)