On This Day / November 12, 1921

Summary: On This Day – 12th November 1921, Irish peace negotiations hung in the balance as James Craig resisted an all-Ireland parliament and Lloyd George explored a Boundary Commission proposal. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.

Peace in the Balance | On This Day – 12th November 1921

THE meeting between Mr Lloyd George and the Orange Cabinet was postponed until today at the PM’s request.

Last evening a prolonged meeting of the British Cabinet was held. As a result, Sir James Craig and his colleagues are now in possession of the British government’s proposals in detail.

It is thought probable that the meeting of the two Cabinets today will not be the final one but that if the Belfast Cabinet refuses the proposals, it will either be asked to reconsider them or to consider alternative proposals and possibly a return to Belfast and a meeting of the Belfast Parliament to decide the question.

In reply to Mr Joseph Devlin (Nationalist, Falls] Mr Lloyd George said the ‘powers’ transfer to Belfast under the 1920 Act by yesterday’s Order in Council were granted in deference to the wish of the House of Commons.

There was no idea of taking them away and it was unfair that the Northern Parliament should be paralysed for the lack of them.

A portion of King George V’s speech to Parliament referred directly to Ireland:

‘The situation in Ireland still causes me great anxiety. I earnestly exhort the leaders of all parties in Ireland … to exercise patience and moderation with the object of establishing friendship and loyal cooperation between my people of that country.

It is my firm belief, as it is my earnest prayer, that with forbearance and goodwill …an enduring peace will finally be achieved.’

Mr Bonar Law [Conservative leader] is stated to be hesitating as to his course of action, but there appears to be no doubt that he will put himself at the head of a Tory revolt at the signal from the Orange party.

Mr Austen Chamberlain [Tory leader at Westminster] commented: ‘I understand how real and widespread is the anxiety felt in Unionist circles as to the course and outcome of the present Irish negotiations…. I believe that there exists… an earnest desire for peace if peace can be obtained in safe and honourable terms. …’

(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: IT WAS clear by mid-November 1921 that Craig, confident of Tory ‘diehard’ support, would reject any attempt by Lloyd George to force him to accept an all-lreland parliament.

It was at this point that the wily British PM first floated his idea of a Boundary Commission with Sinn Fein.

In a skilful diplomatic move, Lloyd George’s agent, Tom Jones, persuaded Griffith to accept his boundary proposal.

This would make it impossible for Sinn Fein to ‘break on Ulster’ in the final session of the Treaty negotiations on December 5-6 1921.)

On This Day – 12th November 1921

Further Reading on Irish History:

List of other On This Day columns

Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive

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