Irish Republic

:This article is about the historical Irish Republic. For the modern Irish state, see: Republic of Ireland1. The terms are not synonomous.

Recognition

Efforts by President de Valera in the United States, and the republic's "ambassador" at the Versailles Peace Conference, Sean T. O'Kelly, to win international recognition failed. O'Kelly had already established the Republic's "embassy" in Paris in April of 1919, and Dr. Pat McCartan set one up in Washington D.C. at the same time. Despite heavy lobbying from prominent Irish-Americans, President Woodrow Wilson refused to raise the Irish case at the conference. The only foreign recognition won for the Irish Republic occurred when the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, under Vladimir Lenin, borrowed money from Michael Collins' Ministry of Finance and paid it back in the Tsarist crown jewels. This was a short-lived boost to the more socialist side of the republican movement.

Related Topics:
Versailles Peace Conference - Sean T. O'Kelly - Paris - Pat McCartan - Washington D.C. - Irish-American - President - Woodrow Wilson - Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic - Vladimir Lenin - Michael Collins' - Tsar - Crown jewels

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The Irish Republic was not recognised by the British government. In 1921 in accordance with Ulster unionist demands the British government passed an Act partitioning Ireland into two regions, called 'Southern Ireland' and Northern Ireland (the Government of Ireland Act, 1920), with their own parliaments which convened in June. Nationalists refused to recognise the authority of the British to do this.

Related Topics:
British government - Ulster - Unionist - Southern Ireland - Northern Ireland - Government of Ireland Act, 1920 - Nationalists

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When, in December 1921, the republic sent representatives to negotiate a truce with the government of David Lloyd George the Dáil commissioned them as "envoys plenipotentiary", acting under the authority of the President of the Republic. However Lloyd George refused to consider the negotiations as talks between two sovereign states, rather that the delegates were representing the Irish people. Furthermore, when the Anglo-Irish Treaty was concluded the British government insisted, as a face-saving measure, that it be submitted to the House of Commons of Southern Ireland for Irish ratification, rather than the Dáil (although in practice the membership of the two bodies was almost identical). Finally, in the transitional period leading to the establishment of the Irish Free State, the British government transferred governance over Southern Ireland to an organ called the 'Provisional Government', rather than the Ministry of the Irish Republic. Again, this was designed to save British face and made no practical difference, as the bodies were one and the same.

Related Topics:
David Lloyd George - Anglo-Irish Treaty - House of Commons of Southern Ireland - Irish Free State - Provisional Government

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