On This Day / November 10, 1921

Summary: On This Day – 10th November 1921, James Craig summoned his Cabinet to London for crucial talks with Lloyd George over Northern Ireland’s future, as Irish peace negotiations reached a critical stage. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.

Craig sends for Cabinet | On This Day – 10th November 1921

Events are hastening towards a decision in London. On Thursday Mr Lloyd George will receive Sir James Craig and his Cabinet and hear their views on the situation.

Sir James requested the interview at which the British Premier agreed to this method of relieving the Belfast Premier of the responsibility of acting on behalf of ‘Ulster’. Meanwhile Craig maintains the familiar attitude of ‘No Surrender’.

The British official view, although grave, does not exclude the possibility of bringing the Six Counties Junta to reason and Mr Lloyd George is credited with a confident belief in his ability to show Sir James Craig and his colleagues a way out of their difficulties.

Sir James Craig called on the PM at 10 Downing Street yesterday. No other Ministers were present and the interview lasted an hour and a half.

Sir James later said: ‘The outcome of this important meeting is the summoning to London of the members of the Cabinet on Northern Ireland who will be placed in full possession of the facts concerning the present situation…’

Sir James added that he had been dealing with the transfer of the services to [the NI government] and it was expected that a good deal of the transfer would be completed during the present month.’

The Press Association learns that Sir James decided on this course because he felt he could not take responsibility for carrying matters further without consulting his colleagues in London.

The official British view last night is that the prospect is serious in the extreme. The Ulster Premier displays no inclination to recede from his position.

Meanwhile Messrs Michael Collins and Gavan Duffy visited the Mansion House, Dublin yesterday where they were engaged in consultation with Mr de Valera and other Dail Ministers. It was stated they would return to London this morning.

In the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Ronald McNeill [Unionist] asked the PM if he had any information to the effect that Sinn Fein were prepared to abandon the claim for Irish independence provided the Government consented to modify the Government of Ireland Act, 1920 in the direction of reducing the area under the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland or of changing the constitutional powers of the Council of Ireland…’

(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: At a private meeting with Lloyd George in London at this time, Craig had seemed open to the idea of a Federal Ireland involving the retention of the Northern Parliament under the overriding jurisdiction of the Dail.

However, within two days the Unionist leader would return with his full Cabinet to reject any link to a Dublin Parliament.)

On This Day – 10th November 1921

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