On This Day / November 3, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
November 3, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 3rd November 1921, Lloyd George conceded to Unionist demands for greater powers for Northern Ireland’s Parliament, while Lord Carson discussed Tyrone and Fermanagh with the Prime Minister. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Victory for Craig | On This Day – 3rd November 1921
IN THE House of Commons yesterday, Captain Charles Craig, leader of the Irish Unionist Party, complained that the Imperial Government had not transferred the necessary powers in order to make the Ulster Parliament a reality.
That Parliament was absolutely impotent and little more than a sham. The Government of NI was being conducted on money borrowed from the bank.
The police in Belfast were under the control of an alien institution, Dublin Castle.
The necessary power should be handed over to the Northern Parliament at the earliest possible moment. (Cheers.)
Sir Samuel Hoare [Coalition Unionist] said that the Conference should go on as long as there was a chance of success on three conditions: namely, no separation, allegiance to the Crown and no coercion of Ulster.
Mr Lloyd George said that Captain Craig had stated: ‘You set up a Parliament in Northern Ireland.
There are certain powers which must be transferred to it before you can make it effective’. …
I can quite see that that is paralysing the necessary activities of the Ulster Government.
I think the position is intolerable to the Northern Parliament. Therefore, unless something happens in the course of the next few days, we shall either… confer the necessary powers upon the Northern Parliament … (Cheers.)
It is unfair to set up a Parliament and deprive it of the only power that enables it to work creditably because that is giving an unfair advantage to its enemies.
The anti-government resolution was defeated. The Press Association says: Mr Lloyd George’s speech especially gratified the Ulster Unionist MPs whose demands were in every respect acceded to.
They regard the PM’s assurance as entirely satisfactory and anticipate that in a very short time the Parliament of NI will be functioning with adequate powers.
Carson Meets Lloyd George
THE London Evening Standard writes: A fine car drove up to Number Ten Downing Street, burnished in blue.
I saw silhouetted against the background the tremendous features of Lord Carson.
He was on his way for a meeting with the Prime Minister. I learn that Tyrone and Fermanagh came under discussion and they say that no-one alive has quite the influence over Mr Lloyd George which Lord Carson can exercise when he wants.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: By November 1921, to ensure the survival of his ‘shaky coalition’, Lloyd George struck a powerful blow at Sinn Fein’s hopes of Irish unity by granting full executive powers to Craig’s administration, including over security.
Inexplicably, Griffith and Collins – despite warnings – seemed oblivious of the significance of Lloyd George’s capitulation to pressure from Belfast.
Meanwhile, Carson — now a law lord — used his influence in the shadows.)
On This Day – 3rd November 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.