On 22 December 1921 Dail Eireann Deputy, General Richard Mulcahy, Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army addressed the Dail concerning Articles of Agreement recently signed in London –
“None of us want this Treaty. None of us want the Crown.None of us want the representative of the Crown.None of us want our harbours occupied by enemy forces; and none of us want what is said to be partition; and we want no arguments against any of these things………I, personally see no alternative to the acceptance of this Treaty……….
As to our ports, we are not in a position of force, either military ot otherwise, to drive the enemy from our ports. We have not, – those on whom the the responsibility has been for doing such things- we have not been able to drive the enemy from anything but from a fairly good-sized police barracks.We have suffered a defeat.”
The Articles of Agreement had been signed under duress. Two of the Irish signatories declared that they signed it when threatened by David LLoyd George with “immediate and terrible war” (which would have been on a much larger scale than the campaign of murderous repression waged by Britain against Ireland’s democracy in the preceding years.) Dail Eireann approved acceptance of the Articles by a small majority, and not one Deputyexpressed approval of the articles individually. The Articles were not a treaty, as Britain did not recognise Republican Sovereignty, or the competence of Dail Eireann to ratify treaties.
Since 1921 the Crown was negotiated out of Ireland’s sovereign affairs and Ireland’s enemy negotiated out most of her ports. Resumed armed resistance, heroic as it has been, has not noticeably achieved an improved military position, nor would a further resumption do so in current conditions, but it has achieved political gains which may be further developed.
In 1921 Lloyd George, Churchill and their gangster team offered Irish representatives an offer they couldn’t refuse. Today admirers of Britain’s gangster imperialists advocate Ireland’s return to Dominion status and the degradation of her citizens to the status of subjects.
It’s an offer Irish citizens MUST refuse if they retch at the stench of tommy-rot and have no relish for poppy-cock sucking.
“Today admirers of Britain’s gangster imperialists advocate Ireland’s return to Dominion status and the degradation of her citizens to the status of subjects”
No they don’t. They propose that the Republic of Ireland joins an association of mainly English speaking parliamentary democracies in the interests of international co-operation, cultural exchange, development and whatever else takes your fancy. Also better relations between nationalists and unionists at home. Not completely dissimilar reasons to the ANC’s decision to rejoin the commonwealth once they’d negotiated the end of apartheid.
And if an Irish citizen were to think otherwise, would they be less Irish?
The Commonwealth is an empty talking shop. Can anyone list any of its achievements?
Its only purpose is that it is the only body where Britain is the major player and thus reinforces their sense of self importance. This will become more so seeing as they are now leaving the EU.
It is also worth noting that in the poster above the dusky skinned servicemen are at the back of the line, as was their place under the empire. Good to see the Commonwealth maintaining tradition.
The peaceful transition of the British Empire to independent parliamentary democracies for a start. Practical institutions to support small nations like The University of the West Indies. The general promotion of democracy, rule of law, human rights, good governance and social and economic development. Ask Baroness Scotland. She’s the boss and she’s from Dominica.
Funny that you think it’s a racist organisation but an apartheid government left it and Mandela’s South Africa rejoined it. Are the Irish better than the 2 billion people who choose to remain in the Commonwealth? What is it about them that makes it so easy for you to dismiss them?
Countries which have left the Commonwealth.
The Gambia. Yahya Jammeh removed the Gambia from the Commonwealth citing neo-colonialism when it took issue with his decision to execute all the homosexuals in his country.
Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe withdrew from the Commonwealth following Zimbabwe’s suspension for election tampering, reckless land seizure, annihilation of wild life and general horribleness.
South Africa. Hendrik Verwoerd withdrew (or was shoved) so as more happily implement Apartheid in his Boer Republic.
And Ireland. Because somehow Commonwealth membership was preventing the great revival of the Gaelic race. Or something
Croiteir is correct, Ireland did not leave the commonwealth.
It changed its name only to the republic of Ireland though its true name remains Ireland in the constitution or something like that, but it was considered to be bad form by the UK who took the hump and expelled Ireland before attempting economic punishment before later changing its mind as it was hurting its pocket also and therefore cutting its nose off to spite its face.
The commonwealth is outdated and meaningless but has great potential for English speaking nations to kick start the formation of an economic union tat would far exceed that of the EU and build true peaceful and mutually respectful relations with many nations throughout the world while avoiding the damage that political interference causes.
I see no benefit from joining the commonwealth but would be very keen on Ireland playing a key role in forming such an alternative economic union to the EU alongside the other nations on these islands.
I cant see Scotland siding with the EU against such an alternative option.
An EU style community of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and the West Indies with a rotating presidency, free movement and shared/pooled trade agreements with the US, EU and Asia (drawing on those agreements already in place) could be something useful in this internet/airliner equipped world.
At the least it might stop England disappearing up itself and trapping the rest of us with them.
Ireland did not leave the Commonwealth.
On another note no state has been formally expelled from the Commonwealth. Perhaps nothing was deemed bad enough when compared to the actions that created the empire to warrant such an action.
Gambia did not withdraw due to any decision to execute all homosexuals, which did not happen, and if that was the reason it makes the statement by the UK through the foreign office “Decisions on Commonwealth membership are a matter for each member government. We would very much regret Gambia, or any other country, deciding to leave the Commonwealth” exceedingly embarrassing.
However Brunei is a member of the commonwealth despite homosexuality being deemed a crime punishable by death.
South Africa was neither shoved nor withdrew, its application however was withdrawn, an important distinction, in 1961, when it became clear that its reapplication for membership on becoming a republic in 1960 would be rejected. After the elections of 1994, South Africa was welcomed back into the association.
Ireland took the Parliamentary Road to independence when, in 1918 Republican candidates,
most of whom were in British jails won 73 of Ireland’s 105 Parliamentary seats. Those not in jail met as a Parliament and set about the creation of a state. Britain’s Gangster imperialists
made murderous war on a virtually unarmed Irish population.
Britain robbed Ireland blind for centuries and conducted an Economic war on her in the 1930s.
South Africa has its own reasons for rejoining the Commonwealth. But they recognised their
best European friends when they gave Gerry Adams a special place at Nelson Mandela’s
funeral.
Yet the Little Empire Loyalists talk of a Commonwealth.
You protest too much Dional. Those of us who live in Ireland will decide our future.
New generations find new uses for old architecture. The Roman roads you English use to travel about on were once used by an oppressive exploitative military. Does that mean you should avoid them?
The people of Ireland have repeatedly been denied determining the country’s future. They had not a decisive say in the Act of Union in 1800, on Home Rule, or the establishment of the
Republic. These were determined by Brutish Imperialism.
There is no majority in Ireland for “Brexit.”
I live in England and am not oblivious of her charms.
But if you, BYC can’t recognise an Elephant in your living room I suggest you go to Specsavers.