W.T. Cosgrave

William Thomas Cosgrave (Irish name Liam Tomás Mac Cosgair; June 6, 1880 – November 16, 1965), known generally as W.T. Cosgrave, was an Irish politician who succeeded Michael Collins as Chairman of the Irish Provisional Government from August to December 1922. He served as the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932.

President Cosgrave 1922-1932

W.T. Cosgrave was a small, quiet man, and at forty-two was the oldest member of the Cabinet. He had not sought the leadership of the new country but once it was his he made good use of it. One of his chief priorities was to hold the new country together and to prove that the Irish could govern themselves. Some historians have noted that he lacked vision as a leader and was surrounded by men who were more capable than himself. However, over his ten years as President he provided the emerging Irish state with an able leader who had a sound judgement on the matters of state that the new country was facing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Domestic Policy

As head of the Free State government during the end of the Civil War, he was ruthless in what he saw as defence of the state against his former republican comrades. Law and order was the new government's chief priority. By many he was never forgiven for the execution without trial of republican prisoners. In all 77 republicans were executed by the Free State between November 1922 and the end of the war in May 1923, far more than the British executed in the War of Independence, including Robert Erskine Childers, Liam Mellowes and Rory O'Connor.

Related Topics:
Republican - War of Independence - Robert Erskine Childers - Liam Mellowes - Rory O'Connor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In April of 1923 the Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin members organised a new political party called Cumann na nGaedhael with Cosgrave as leader. In the first few years in power the new government faced a number of problems. Firstly, the government attempted to reduce the size of the army. During the civil war it had grown to over 50,000 men, however, now that the civil war was over it was far too costly to maintain. However, some army officers challenged the authority of the government to intervene. They were angry that the government was not doing enough to help to create a republic and also there would be massive unemployment. In March 1924 more lay offs were expected and the army officers involved sent an ultimatum to the government demanding an end to the mobilisation. Kevin O'Higgins, the Minister for Justice, who was also acting-President for Cosgrave while he was in hospital, moved to resolve the so-called "Army Mutiny". Richard Mulcahy, the Minister for Defence, resigned and O'Higgins was victorious in a very public power struggle withinn Cumann na nGaedhael. The crisis within the army was solved but the government was divided.

Related Topics:
1923 - Sinn Féin - Cumann na nGaedhael - 1924 - Kevin O'Higgins - Richard Mulcahy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1924 the British and Irish governments agreed to set up a "Boundary Commission" to redraw the border between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. The Free State's representative was Eoin MacNeill, a repected scholar and Minister for Education. The Free State expected to gain much territory in Derry, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh, as the British government had indicated during the treaty negotiations that the wishes of the nationalist inhabitants along the border would be taken into account. However, after months of secret negotiations a newspaper reported that there would be little change to the border and the Free State would actually lose territory in Donegal. MacNeill resigned from the commission and the government for not reporting to Cosgrave on the details of the commission. Cosgrave immediately went to London for a meeting with the British Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, where they agreed to let the border remain as it was.

Related Topics:
1924 - Irish Free State - Northern Ireland - Eoin MacNeill - Derry - Fermanagh - Tyrone - Armagh - Donegal - London - British Prime Minister - Prime Minister of Northern Ireland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Foreign Policy

Although Cograve and his government accepted dominion status for the Irish Free State, they did not trust the British to respect this new independence. These suspicions would later prove justified. The government embarked on fairly radical foreign initiatives. In 1923 the Irish Free State became a member of the League of Nations, in spite of British protests. The Free State became the first British Commonwealth country to have a separate or non-British representative in Washington, D.C.. The new state also exchanged diplomats with many other European nations.

Related Topics:
1923 - Irish Free State - League of Nations - British Commonwealth - Washington, D.C.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Anglo-Irish Treaty itself also gave the Irish much more freedom than many other dominions. The Oath of Allegiance in Ireland was much less royalist than in Canada or Australia. The king's representative in Ireland was Irish, unlike the other dominions, and although the head of state was the king, power was derived from the Irish people and not him. There was also questions raised about the word "treaty". The British claimed it was an internal affair while the Irish saw it as an international agreement between two independent states, a point which was accepted by the League of Nations.

Related Topics:
Oath of Allegiance - Royalist - Canada - Australia - League of Nations

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Economic Policy

During the ten years that Cosgrave and Cumann na nGaedhael were in power they adopted a conservative economic policy. Taxation was kept as low as possible in order to balance the budget and to avoid borrowing. The Irish currency remained linked to the British currency, resulting in the overvaluation of the Irish pound. Free trade was advocated as opposed to protection, however, moderate tariffs were introduced on some items.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The new government decided to concentrate on developing agriculture, while doing little to help the industrial sector. Agriculture responded well with stricter quality control being introduced and the passing of a Land Act to help farmers buy their farms. Also, the Irish Sugar Company and the Agricultural Credit Corporation were established to encourage growth. However, the economic depression that hit in the 1930s soon undid the good work of Cosgrave and his ministers. Industry was seen as secondary to agriculture and little was done to improve it. The loss of the north-east of Ireland had a bad effect on the country as a whole. However, the Electricity Supply Board, with the first national grid in Europe, was established to provide employment and electricity to the new state.

Related Topics:
Irish Sugar Company - Agricultural Credit Corporation - 1930s - Ireland - Electricity Supply Board

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

General Election 1932

A general election was not necesary until the end of 1932, however, Cosgrave called one for February of that year. There was growing unrest in the country and a fresh mandate was needed for an important Commonwealth meeting in the summer. Cumann na nGaedhael fought the election on its record of providing ten years of honest governmant and politicial and economic stability. Instead of developing new policies the party played the "red card" by portraying the new party, Fianna Fáil, as communists. Fianna Fáil offered the electorate a fresh and popular manifesto of social reform. Unable to compete with this Cosgrave and his party lost the election, and a minority Fianna Fáil government came to power.

Related Topics:
1932 - Cumann na nGaedhael - Fianna Fáil

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~