David Lloyd George was known by one and all in his day as able and ruthless and a shameless liar. So all of what he said should be cross-checked with other sources. So far as I know, and I am not a historian, much less a distinguished one, the following remarks of his on March 31st 1920 were not challenged at the time nor refuted since:
“If you ask the people of Ireland what plan they would accept, by an emphatic majority they would say:’We want independence and an Irish Republic.’ There is absolutely no doubt about that.The elected representatives of Ireland now, by a clear, definite majority, have declared in favour of independence – of secession.”
Some fourteen months earlier THE TIMES of London commented on the recent General Election –
” The General Election in Ireland was treated on all sides as a plebiscite and admittedly Sinn Fein swept the country.”
Between the December 1918 General Election and Lloyd George’s March 1920 statement Irish voters had ample time to revise their opinions but in the Municipal elections in January 1920 their support for Republicanism had grown stronger.
In June 1920 the County Elections, Rural District Council Elections and Elections for Poor Law Guardians, if anything, further testified to the veracity Lloyd George’s statement quoted above.
Remarkable how “revisionist” commentators seem never to have noticed those local elections and their significance! Could it be a cat’s got eyes and their tongues?.
Long after ‘independence’ , Donal, a strong pro-British clique in the media, banking and education has wielded influence much greater than justified by their numbers. It is reflected in their attitude to the language and to those born outside of the greater Dublin area.
What is “independence” as opposed to independence ?
Could you name the strong “pro-British” clique members of the media, banking and education ?
Thanks.
It is reflected in their attitude to a lot of Dublin people too John,
You may note that LLoyd George that there was “no doubt” about a “clear definite
majority” who wanted independence.
Compare that with THE TIMES – “admittedly Sinn Fein swept the country” a begrudging admission wrung through clenched teeth.
Compare both with the denials of Eoghan Harris and Ruth Dudley Edwards that Sinn Fein
won a popular majority in 1918. They don’t rate even as high as the lowest of begrudgers.
They’re not even worthy of a proverbial fucking!