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Canada, Ireland and the Commonwealth: the declaration of the Irish republic, 1948-9

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

F J McEvoy
F J McEvoy*
Affiliation:
Historical Division, Department of External Affairs, Ottawa
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Extract

The relationship of Ireland to the Commonwealth during the period of its membership was a tortuous one. Forced to accept dominion status under threat of the renewal of Anglo-Irish hostilities, Ireland was not an enthusiastic member of the club as were the older dominions. The Constitutional Amendment (No. 27) Bill, enacted on 11 December 1936, removed all references to the crown and governor general from the constitution while the Executive Authority (External Relations) Bill, enacted the next day, recognised the crown only for purposes of diplomatic representation and international agreements. These two measures, commonly referred to as the External Relations Act, left Ireland a more or less undeclared republic with ambiguous links to the Commonwealth. Wartime neutrality differentiated Ireland even further from the other dominions, aroused British anger and brought the question of Ireland's constitutional status into even greater prominence. Ireland was, the Canadian high commissioner in Dublin considered in 1944, a more or less unknown quantity' The Canadian government, though it would have preferred a different choice, respected Ireland's neutrality and resented British actions, taken without prior consultation, that might have contrived to drive Ireland from the Commonwealth. The end of the war removed a major cause of grievance but left Ireland's nosition unresolved.

Type
Research Article
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 24 , Issue 96 , November 1985 , pp. 506 - 527
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1985

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References

1 J.D. Kearney to N.A. Robertson, 18 Oct. 1944, cited in Fred McEvoy, ‘Canadian-Irish relations during the Second World War’ in Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, v (1977). p. 222.

2 Ibid., pp 219-23

3 John A. Murphy, Ireland in the twentieth century (Dublin, 1975), p. 124.

4 London to Ottawa, des A. 305. 27 July 1945 (Department of External Affairs, Ottawa (hereinafter D.E.A.). file 50021-40).

5 J.D Kearney to H.H. Wrong, 18 Aug. 1945 (ibid).

6 H.H. Wrong to J.D. Kearney, 19 Sept. 1945 (ibid.).

7 Ottawa to London, des. 1566, 19 Sept. 1945 (ibid).

8 London to Ottawa, des. A. 435, 25 Sept. 1945, enclosure, ‘Relations with Eire', 7 Sept. 1945 (ibid.); McEvoy, ‘Canadian-Irish relations , p. 22. A study of American public opinion concludes that anger at the consequences of Irish neutrality poisoned relations between the two countries well into the Truman era (R.J Raymond, ‘American public opinion and Irish neutrality. 1939-1945* in tire-Ireland, xviii, no. 1 (spring 1983), pp 20-45).

9 N.A. Robertson to L.B. Pearson, 17 Feb. 1947 (D.E.A., file 484-40).

10 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 64 15 Apr. 1947 (ibid.).

11 Dublin to Ottawa, des 102. 9 July 1947 (ibid., file 50021-40).

12 Murphy, , Ireland. pp 124–5.Google Scholar

13 Dublin to Ottawa, tel. 32. 29 July 1948 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

14 London to Ottawa, tel. 1311, “ Aug. 1948 (ibid.). Cf. Murphy. Ireland, p. 35.

15 Dublin to Ottawa, des 121. 14 Aug. 1948 (D.E.A.. file 50021-40).

16 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 126, 24 Aug. 1948, emphasis in original (ibid., file 6939-40). Turgeon is here referring to the anti-home-rule campaign of 1911 14 led by Sir Edward Carson.

17 W.F.A. Turgeon to L.B. Pearson, 16 Aug. 1948; Pearson to Turgeon, 25 Aug. 1948 (ibid., file 50021-40).

18 Memorandum for the prime minister, 1 Sept. 1948 (ibid.).

19 Mansergh, Nicholas, Survey of British Commonwealth affairs: problems of wartime co-operation and post-war change, 1939-1952 (London, 1958), pp 281-2.Google Scholar According to Sean MacBride, Costellos external affairs minister, the speech was approved in advance by cabinet and stated ‘the considered policy of the Irish government’ (Sean Mac-Bride, ‘Declaring the Irish republic: a reply to Conor Cruise O'Brien in Robert O'Driscoll (ed.), The Celtic consciousness (Dublin and Toronto, 1981), pp 440-41).

20 Murphy, . Ireland, p. 126.Google Scholar

2l Dublin to Ottawa, des. 188, 7 Dec. 1948 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

22 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 151 5 Oct. 1948 (ibid.).

23 Douglas Hicks to David Johnson, enclosure, 17 Dec. 1949 (ibid).

24 R.G. Riddell to H.F. Feaver, 22 Dec. 1949 (ibid.).

25 Mr John A. Costello remembers in Irish Times, 8 Sept. 1967 Cf. W.B. Stanford, ‘Declaring the Irish republic: another view in O'Driscoll, Celtic consciousness, pp 443-4.

26 J.W. Pickersgill and D.F. Forster (eds), The Mackenzie King record, ivy 1947-48 (Toronto, 1970), pp 385-6. In investigating all the incidents some months later Department of External Affairs officials reached the conclusion that the toast to the president had not, in fact, been given. This does not agree with Mackenzie King's diary account or with Costello s 1967 reminiscence.

27 Pickersgill & Forster, Mackenzie King record, iv, 386-7

28 Cabinet conclusions, 8 Sept. 1948 (Public Archives of Canada (hereinafter P.A.C.), RG 2, series 16, vol. 7).

29 Pickersgill & Forster, Mackenzie King record, iv, 388.

30 Notes of conversation between the prime minister of Canada and the prime minister of Ireland, at Kingsmere, Thursday. September 9th, 1948’ (D.E.A., file 50021-40). Cf. Pickersgill & Forster, Mackenzie King record, iv, 387-9.

31 Ottawa to Washington, tel. EX-2160, 10 Sept. 1948 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

32 Escott Reid to W.F.A. Turgeon, 14 Oct. 1948 (ibid.).

33 Pickersgill, & Forster, Mackenzie King record, iv. 400-2.Google Scholar

34 Cabinet conclusions, 12 Oct. 1948 (P.A.C., RG 2, series 16, vol. 7).

35 Lord Jowitt to N.A. Robertson, 14 Oct. 1948 (D.E.A., file 50021-40). ‘I am most anxious Jowitt wrote, ‘that Sean MacBride should not know that I have shown you this correspondence’.

36 London to Ottawa, tel. 1831, 21 Oct. 1948 (ibid.).

37 David Harkness. Patrick McGilligan, man of Commonwealth in Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, vii (1979), pp 129-30.

38 Cabinet conclusions, 27 Oct. 1948 (P.A.C., RG 2, series 16, vol. 7).

39 J.J. Hearne to L.B. Pearson, 21 Oct. 1948 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

40 A.J. Pick to H.O. Moran, 29 Oct. 1948 (ibid.).

41 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 178, 9 Nov. 1948 (ibid.).

42 Canadian delegation to U.N.O., Paris, to Ottawa, tel. 382, 12 Nov. 1948 (ibid.).

43 Canadian delegation to U.N.O., Paris, to Ottawa, tel. 381, 12 Nov. 1948 (ibid.).

44 Canadian delegation to U.N.O., Paris, to Ottawa, tel. 389. 14 Nov 1948 (ibid.).

45 Informal record of a meeting held in the offices of the Rt Hon. H.V Evatt at the Palais de Chaillot, Paris, on November 16th 1948’ (ibid). At the request of Australia no formal record was kept because, as Pearson wrote, “records of previous Commonwealth discussions had fallen into the hands of members of the opposition of the parliament of Australia and had been used in a manner which embarrassed the government … The attached account of what took place (based on notes taken by a member of the British delegation) should not be regarded as the kind of record which Mr Beasley did not wish to have made. This proviso gives an appropriate Irish character to the status of this record.’ (L.B. Pearson to Escort Reid, 23 Nov. 1948, ibid.).

46 Harkness, ‘Patrick McGilligan pp 130-31.

47 Canadian delegation to U.N.O., Paris, to Ottawa, tel. 420, 19 Nov 1948 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

48 Sir A. Clutterbuck to L. St Laurent, with enclosure, ‘£ire: position resulting from Paris discussions on 16th November 1948', 22 Nov 1948 (ibid.).

49 Canadian delegation to U.N.O., Paris to Ottawa, tel. 455, 22 Nov. 1948 (ibid.).

50 W.F.A. Turgeon to Escott Reid, 13 Dec. 1948, enclosing extract from Costello's speech (ibid.). He also paid a deserved tribute to Evatt and Fraser. Cf. Ddil Eireann deb., cxiii, 354-5.

5l Cabinet conclusions, 24 Nov. i948 (P.A.C., RG 2, series 16, vol. 7).

52 H.O. Moran, Memorandum, 25 Nov 1948 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

53 External Affairs (Ottawa), i, B (Dec. 1948), p. 30.

54 Ottawa to London, tel. 2009, 27 Nov 1948 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

55 Ottawa to London, tel. 1998, 26 Nov 1948 (ibid.).

56 Ottawa to London, tel. 2000, 26 Nov. 1948 (ibid.).

57 Ottawa to Dublin, tel. 64, 1 Dec. 1948 (ibid.).

58 Escott Reid to the minister, 21 Dec. 1948 (ibid.).

59 N.A. Robertson to Escott Reid, 30 Dec. 1948 (ibid.).

60 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 1%, 29 Dec. 1948 (ibid., file 484-40).

61 London to Ottawa, tel. 32, 5 Jan. 1949 (ibid., file 50021-40). For Northern Irish demands, see Ronan Fanning, ‘The response of the London and Belfast governments to the declaration of the Republic of Ireland, 1948-49’ in International Affairs, lviii (1982), pp 103-10.

62 Secretary of state for Commonwealth relations to Ottawa, circular H. 14, 13 Jan. 1949 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

63 London to Ottawa, tel. 115, 14 Jan. 1949 (ibid., file 8816-40).

64 Memorandum to the cabinet, 17 Jan. 1949 (ibid.).

65 Cabinet conclusions, 19 Jan. 1949 (P.A.C., RG 2, series 16, vol. 8).

66 D.M. Johnson, Memorandum, 26 Jan. 1949 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

67 Sir A. Clutterbuck to L.B. Pearson, 28 Jan. 1949 and 16 Mar. 1949 (ibid., file 8816-40).

68 Note and enclosure left with the Department of External Affairs by British high commission. 8 Feb. 1949 (ibid., file 50021-40).

69 Escott Reid to the minister, 10 Mar. 1949, minuted by A.D.P. Heeney (ibid.).

70 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 27 8 Feb. 1949 (ibid., file 6939-40). For the American approach and the Irish response see Foreign relations of the United States, 1949. vol. iv Western Europe (Washington, 1975). pp 15, 90-91, 292-3.

71 Sean MacBnde to L.B. Pearson, 7 Feb. 1949 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

72 L.B. Pearson. Mike: the memoirs of the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, ii, 1948-1957 ed. J.A. Munro and A.I. Inglis (Toronto, 1973). p. 55.

73 A.J Pick to Escott Reid, 18 Feb. 1949 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

74 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 39, 4 Mar. 1949 (ibid., file 6939-40). R.J Raymond argues that other factors, including economics and the fear of losing independence in foreign policy, also influenced the Irish decision, while pointing out that there was significant support for Irish participation in the alliance in catholic, military and intellectual circles. The use of partition as an excuse, however, enabled the government to avoid being outflanked by the anti-partition campaign of Fianna Fáil. (R.J Raymond, ‘Irish neutrality: ideology and pragmatism?’ in International Affairs, Ix (1984), pp 34-40.

75 L.B. Pearson to Sean MacBride. 22 Feb. 1949 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

76 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 44, 14 Mar 1949 (ibid.).

77 Ottawa to Dublin, tel. 42. 16 Apr. 1949 (ibid.).

78 Ottawa to Dublin, tel. 41. 15 Apr. 1949 (ibid., file 7545-A-40); Dublin to Ottawa, des, 82, 27 Apr. 1949 (ibid).

79 Memorandum for the prime minister, 7 Apr. 1949 (ibid.).

80 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 82, 27 Apr. 1949 (ibid.).

81 A.J Pick, Memorandum for file, 29 Apr 1949 (ibid., file 50021-40).

82 Murphy, , Ireland, pp 127-8Google Scholar; Fanning, ‘Response', pp 110-14. For text of the act, see Nicholas Mansergh (ed.), Documents and speeches on British Commonwealth affairs, 1931-1952 (2 vols, London, 1953), ii, 821-5.

83 Dublin to Ottawa, tel. 50, 9 May 1949 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

84 A.D.P. Heeney to the minister, 12 May 1949, minuted by Pearson (ibid.).

85 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 104, 20 May 1949 (ibid.).

86 Memorandum on the Ireland bill’ n.d., handed to A.D.P Heeney on 25 May 1949; Escott Reid to the minister. 30 May 1949; Heeney to Johnson, 10 June 1949 (ibid.).

87 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 155 2 Aug. 1949 (ibid., file 10566-40).

88 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 190, 3 Oct. 1949 (ibid.).

89 A.D.P Heeney to the minister, 28 Oct. 1949; Pearson to Heeney 29 Oct. 1949; Heeney to the prime minister minuted by St Laurent, 7 Nov 1949 (ibid.).

90 S.F. Rae to B. Cockram. 13 Dec. 1949; London to Ottawa, tel. 2492, 23 Dec. 1949 (P.AC, RG 25. vol. 2092, file AR 27/4).

9l Ottawa to London, tel. 2251, 31 Dec. 1949 (ibid.).

92 Dominion of Canada, Official report of debates: house of commons, 1950, iv, 4022-3. For the text of the amendments, see Acts of parliament of the Dominion of Canada, 1950, i, 353-65.

93 Dublin to Ottawa, des. 61, 29 Mar 1950 (D.E.A., file 50021-40); Heeney to the minister, 25 May 1950 (ibid., file 10566-40).

95 London to Ottawa, tel. 1159, 16 June 1950 (ibid., file 8816-40).

96 Ottawa to London, tel. 877. 21 June 1950 (ibid., file 10566-40).

97 London to Ottawa, tel. 1208. 22 June 1950 (ibid., file 8816-40).

98 London to Ottawa, tel. 1216, 23 June 1950 (ibid., 10566-40).

99 Ottawa to London, tel. 890, 24 June 1950 (ibid., file 8816-40).

100 Sean Murphy to Heeney, 2^ June 1950 (ibid.).

10l L.D Wilgress to the Minister, 11 July 1952. (P.A.C.. RG 25. vol. 2412, file 285-Y-40).

102 Wilgrcss to Murphy 11 July 1952 (ibid.).

103 Frederic Hudd to Wilgress, 1 Aug. 1952, enclosure, Lascelles to secretary to the governor general, 31 July 1952 (ibid.).

104 Wilgress to K. Burbridge, 13 Aug. 1952 (ibid.).

105 Burbridge to Wilgress, 18 Aug. 1952 (ibid.).

106 Wilgress to Robertson, 28 Aug. 1952 (ibid.).

107 Robertson to Wilgress, 10 Oct. 1952 (ibid.).

108 Wilgress to Robertson, 22 Oct. 1952 (ibid.).

109 London to Ottawa, tel. 2219, 30 Oct. 1952 (ibid.).

110 London to Ottawa, tel. 2220, 31 Oct. 1952 (ibid.). De Valera returned to office in 1951.

111 London to Ottawa, tel. 2238, 3 Nov. 1952 (ibid.).

1l2 Ottawa to London, des. L-305, 25 Feb. 1953 (ibid.).

113 D.V LePan to Pearson, 15 Jan. 1951, enclosure, N.A. Robertson, ‘Memorandum of conversation with F.H. Boland, Irish ambassador', 4 Jan. 1951 (D.E.A., file 50021-40).

114 I should like to thank my colleagues in the historical division, Department of External Affairs, Ottawa, for their comments on an earlier draft of this paper Professor John A. Murphy of University College, Cork, was also kind enough to read it. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Department of External Affairs.