2.  During 1921 there was communication
between Ireland and England regarding the
possibility of independence.
 While, Ireland wanted full independence,
Britain wanted Ireland to remain within the
empire
 The British Prime Minsiter, Lloyd George,
requested an Irish negotiation team to be
sent to London
 Eamon De Valera decided he should stay in
Ireland as President

3.  Some people claim that by agreeing to send a
negotiation team, De Valera, de facto, accepted
that there would not be a republic.
 The Irish Negotiation team was led by Michael
Collins and Arthur Griffith as well as four other
men.
 The Irish team were given power to agree to a
treaty but were told that they should refer it back
to Dublin before signing.
 The British negotiation team was led by
experienced politicians including Lloyd George,
Winston Churchill and Austen Chamberlin.

4.  Britain wondered how it could please Ireland’s
desire for its own state while satisfying itself
by keeping Ireland within the empire
 Britain wanted to keep Ireland in its empire
for security reasons and also so other
countries would not seek independence
 Ireland were concerned with The Oath of
Allegiance to the King as well the issue of
loosing Ulster. The Irish team desired unity.

5.  The Oath of Allegiance was modified to try to
alleviate Irish concerns
 A Boarder Commission was to be set-up to
decide on the boarder with Northern Ireland.
The Irish team hoped that Northern Ireland
would be absorbed into the Irish state later.
 Lloyd George threatened immediate and
terrible war unless the Irish team agreed.
 On December 6th 1921, The Treaty was
signed without referring it back to Dublin.