Stanley Baldwin's 'Irish question'

Historical Journal

Volumn 43, Issue 4, 2000, Pages 1027-1049

  Matthews, Kevin ^a  

^a LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS   (United Kingdom)

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EID: 22544477706     PISSN: 0018246X     EISSN: 14695103     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0018246X00001485     Document Type: Article

References (172)

1. Jones diary, 9 Apr. 1924, in T. Jones, Whitehall diary, 1: 1916-25 (1), ed. K. Middlemas (London, 1969), pp. 275-6.
2. House of Commons debates (HC Deb), 177, col. 46, 30 Sept. 1924.
3. The annual register: a review of public events at home and abroad, 1924 (London, 1925), p. 8.
4. A. J. P. Taylor, English history, 1914-1945 (Oxford, 1965), pp. 161, 236;
5. S. Lawlor, Britain and Ireland, 1314-1923 (Dublin, 1983), p. 154.
6. HC Deb, 189, col. 360, 8 Dec. 1925.
7. Baldwin to Craig, 14 Jan. 1924, London, Public Record Office (PRO), Home Office papers (HO) 144/3915/4.
8. 'The end of the Coalition', Quarterly Review, Jan. 1923, pp. 211-12.
9. Cmd 1560: articles of agreement for a treaty between Great Britain and Ireland [Cmd 1560] (London, 1921), sess. 11, i, 75.
10. HC Deb, 149, col. 203, 15 Dec. 1921.
11. Cmd 1560, Article 12.
12. See, e.g., M. Laffan, The partition of Ireland, 1911-1925 (Dundalk, 1983), pp. 72-105;
13. J. J. Lee, Ireland, 1912-1985: politics and society (Cambridge, 1989), pp. 52-3.
14. 'The Council of Ireland', Commonwealth Relations Office memorandum, 19Apr. 1949, HO 45/23466;
15. also, see Hawtrey memorandum, 12 Nov. 1923, PRO, Treasury papers 160/187/F.7136/1.
16. See, e.g., Cave to Chamberlain, 15 Oct. 1922, British Library (BL), Cave papers, Add. MSS 62, 464, fo. 68. David Close maintains that the treaty was the die-hards' 'main grievance' against Lloyd George's government. See 'Conservatives and Coalition after the First World War', Journal of Modern History, 45 (1973), p. 254.
17. Trevor Wilson, in The downfall of the Liberal party, 1914-1935 (London, 1966), pp. 221-2, rejects an Irish role in the Coalition's demise.
18. C. Coote, A companion of honour: the story of Walter Elliot (London, 1965), pp. 74-5.
19. Jones diary, 16 Nov. 1922, 1, p. 223.
20. Griffith-Boscawen to Bonar Law, 25 Oct. 1922, House of Lords Record Office (HLRO), Bonar Law papers (ABL) 110/1/1.
21. S. Baldwin, 'Why I support the Irish agreement', Popular View, 1 (1922), p. 3.
22. R. Rhodes James, Memoirs of a Conservative: J. C. C. Davidson's memoirs and papers, 1910-1937 (London, 1969), p. 138.
23. British cabinet conclusions (C) 68 (22), appendix 11, 22 Nov. 1922, Cabinet (CAB) 23/32.
24. O'Shiel to Cosgrave, undated, University College Dublin Archives, Richard Mulcahy papers, P7/B/101.
25. Cosgrave to Bonar Law, 16 May 1923, National Archives of Ireland (NAI), department of the taoiseach (D/T), S 1801/C.
26. 'Prime minister as leader', Times, 29 May 1923.
27. Chamberlain to Birkenhead, 31 May 1923, University of Birmingham Library (UBL), Austen Chamberlain papers (AC) 35/2/18.
28. Chamberlain to Worthington-Evans, 24 May 1923, AC 35/2/6.
29. 'Mr. Chamberlain and Ulster', Belfast News-Letter, 2 Nov. 1922.
30. Ibid..
31. 'The Irish Revolution', 'Irish Settlement. Mr. A. Chamberlain on partition', 'Irish partition. The alleged promise', 'Irish boundary. The alleged secret understanding', all in The Times, 12, 18, 25 May, 12 Sept. 1923. W. O'Brien, in The Irish revolution and how it came about (Dublin, 1923), pp. 441-5, claimed the undertaking was given by Lloyd George and Churchill.
32. Chamberlain memorandum, 27 May 1923, AC 35/2/11 (b).
33. Chamberlain diary, 1 June 1923, UBL, Neville Chamberlain papers (NC) 2/21.
34. Peel to Reading, 12 June 1923, BL, India Office papers (IO), MSS Eur. E. 238/6, no. 20.
35. Cosgrave to Baldwin, 9 June 1923, PRO, Colonial Office papers (CO) 739/18/30127.
36. Jones diary, 10 June 1923, in T. Jones, Whitehall diary, III: Ireland, 1916-1925 (III), ed. K. Middlemas (London, 1971), p. 221.
37. Although other matters relative to the Free State were considered, the boundary question was not discussed in cabinet between 30 May 1923 and 22 Jan. 1924.
38. See CAB 23/46.
39. See, e.g., HC Deb, 167, cols. 1699-700, 2 Aug. 1923.
40. Devonshire to Baldwin, 20 July 1923, CO 739/18/36328; Curtis to Devonshire, 30 July 1923, CO 739/20/42192;
41. cabinet conclusions, 30 July 1923, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), CAB4/84/12.
42. MacNeill to O'Higgins, 2 Nov. 1923, D/T, S 1801/C. Curtis to Loughnane, 9Nov. 1923, CO 739/20/54021.
43. Jones diary, 22 Dec. 1923, I, p. 261.
44. For the election results, see D. Butler and J. Freeman, British political facts, 1900-1967 (London, 1968), p. 142.
45. Austen to Ida Chamberlain, 17 Nov. 1923, AC 5/1/298;
46. Taylor, English history, p. 210.
47. R. Rhodes James, The British revolution, 1880-1939 (New York, 1977), p. 467;
48. J. Ramsden, A history of the Conservative party: the age of Balfour and Baldwin, 1902-1940 (London, 1978), p. 183.
49. M. Cowling, The impact of Labour, 1920-1924 (Cambridge, 1971), pp. 361, 419-20;
50. D. Marquand, Ramsay MacDonald (London, 1977), p. 312.
51. C. R. Coote, Editorial: the memoirs of Colin R. Coote (London, 1965), p. 100;
52. also, see Jones diary, 30 Sept., 25 Nov. 1923, 1, pp. 243, 255.
53. Annual register: 1924, p. 7.
54. J. Campbell, Lloyd George: the goat in the wilderness (London, 1977), p. 86.
55. Webb diary, 19 Nov., 12 Dec. 1923, London School of Economics and Political Science archive (LSE), 37, fos. 3987-8, 3997-4002.
56. 'North-eastern boundary bureau', memorandum, 13 Dec. 1923, D/T, S 1801/C.
57. Cowling, Impact of labour, p. 380.
58. Ramsden, Balfour and Baldwin, p. 190.
59. Neville to Hilda Chamberlain, 9 Feb. 1924, NC 18/1/425;
60. 'Life and politics ', Nation, 24 May 1924.
61. Also, see, Robert Cecil to Salisbury, 10 Apr. 1924, BL, Cecil papers, Add. MSS 51085, fo. 126.
62. K. O. Morgan, Consensus and disunity: the Lloyd George Coalition government, 1918-1922 (Oxford, 1979), pp. 7, 357, 364-5;
63. Chamberlain to Hoare, 28 Jan. 1924, Cambridge University Library (CUL), Templewood papers, V:1 (51).
64. Salisbury to Baldwin, 26 Jan. 1924, CUL, Stanley Baldwin papers (SB) 159, fos. 258-61;
65. Austen to Hilda Chamberlain, 24 Jan. 1924, AC 5/1/304;
66. Baldwin to Salisbury, 25 Jan. 1924, Hatfield House, Salisbury papers (S (4)) 108/83-4.
67. Taylor, English history, p. 218.
68. Dáil Eireann Debates, 7, col. 2364, 13 June 1924.
69. HC Deb, 174, cols. 1257-61, 1469, 4, 5 June 1924.
70. 'Ulster and the boundary', Times, 1 May 1924.
71. Cabinet conclusions, 5 May 1924, PRONI, CAB4/112/12;
72. Leaders Conference - shadow cabinet minutes and reports (LC) Min. 1 (24), 1 May 1924, Cave papers, Add. MSS 62, 489, fos. 75-7.
73. LC 10 (24), 5 May 1924. Cave papers, Add. MSS 62, 464, fos. 69-72.
74. Cecil to Salisbury, 9 May 1924, S (4) 109/44-7.
75. Jones diary, 31 July 1924, III, pp. 233-4.
76. Cmd 2214: Report of the judicial committee of the privy council, as approved by order of His Majesty in Council, of the 31st July, 1924, on the questions connected with the Irish boundary commission referred to the said committee (London, 1924), xi, 351.
77. Jones diary, 8 May 1924, 111, pp. 230-1;
78. Duff to Lloyd George, 30 July 1924, HLRO, Lloyd George papers, G/13/2/1.
79. Jones diary, 29 July 1924, III, p. 233.
80. LC Min. 6 (24), 30 July 1924, Cave papers, Add, MSS 62, 489, fos. 95-6.
81. C 44 (24), 30 July 1924, CAB 23/48.
82. Jones diary, 31 July 1924, III, p. 234;
83. C 44 (24), 30 July 1924, CAB 23/48; Baldwin to Joan Davidson, 30 July 1924, Viscount Davidson papers (private collection).
84. Austen to Ivy Chamberlain, 31 July 1924, AC 6/1/546. Neville Chamberlain called Lloyd George's reaction 'downright unpatriotic'.
85. See Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 3 Aug. 1924, NC 18/1/446.
86. Marquand, MacDonald, pp. 329-51, 361-4.
87. Ibid., pp. 364-70.
88. Webb diary, 21 July 1924, LSE 38, fos. 4096-102.
89. Some Conservatives agreed. See Gretton to Carson, 16 Sept. 1924, PRONI, CAB9Z/3/2.
90. MacDonald to George V, 2 Aug. 1924, PRO, James Ramsay MacDonald papers (PRO 30/69), PRO 30/69/228.
91. Fisher diary, 2 Aug. 1924, Bodleian Library (Bodl.), MSS Fisher, 19;
92. Annual register: 1924, p. 87.
93. HC Deb, 176, cols. 2403, 1 Aug. 1924.
94. Ibid., cols. 2930-2, 6 Aug. 1924.
95. Ibid., cols. 2932-7;
96. MacDonald to George V, 7 Aug. 1924, PRO 30/69/228.
97. 'The devil and the peace treaties', Nation, g Aug. 1924.
98. 'Mr Baldwin on Irish crisis', Times, 7 Aug. 1924.
99. Baldwin to Wood, 6 Sept. 1924, Borthwick Institute, University of York, Halifax papers, A4.410/14/1.
100. Salisbury to Baldwin, 25 Aug., 5 Sept. 1924, SB 99, fos. 122-5, 132-3.
101. Amery to Baldwin, 3 Aug. 1924, SB 99, fos. 118-19.
102. Austen to Ivy Chamberlain, 1 Aug. 1924, AG 6/1/548.
103. Baldwin to Joan Davidson, 14 Aug. 1924, Davidson papers.
104. Craig to Carson, 18 Aug. 1924, PRONI, CAB9Z/5/1.
105. Baldwin to Wood, 6 Sept. 1924, Halifax papers, A4.410/14/1;
106. Baldwin to Salisbury, 2 Sept. 1924, S (4) 110/25.
107. Ibid., Baldwin to Wood.
108. Baldwin to Joan Davidson, 21 Aug. 1924, Davidson papers; Baldwin to Wood, 6 Sept. 1924, Halifax papers, A4.410/14/1.
109. Salisbury to Baldwin, 25 Aug. 1924, SB 99, fos. 122-7;
110. Salisbury to Cave, 2 Sept. 1924, Cave papers, Add. MSS 62, 464, fos. 77-80.
111. Craig to Carson, 18 Aug. 1924, PRONI, CAB9Z/5/1.
112. Birkenhead to Balfour, 3 Mar. 1922, Churchill College, Cambridge, Winston S. Churchill papers (WSC) 2/570/1-5.
113. 'Winston to Clementine Churchill, 19 Aug. 1924, Churchill College Cambridge, Clementine Churchill papers 2/17/13-15;
114. Churchill to Horne, 30 Aug. 1924, WSC 2/134/84-5. According to John Ramsden, West Toxteth Conservatives would not consider Churchill's candidacy' because of his past attitude to Ulster'.
115. See Balfour and Baldwin, p. 192.
116. See, e.g., 'Ulster's right: the proof, Daily News;
117. and 'Irish boundary. Lord Birkenhead on Article 12', Times, both dated 8 Sept. 1924.
118. Craig to Baldwin, 17 Sept. 1924, PRONI, CAB9Z/3/1.
119. Londonderry to Salisbury, 18 Sept. 1924, S (4) 110/43-4.
120. Executive Minute Book, 9 Sept. 1924, Bodl., MSS National Unionist Association (NUA) 4/1/4, fo. 101.
121. Gretton to Carson, 16 Sept. 1924, PRONI, CAB9Z/3/2.
122. Wood to Baldwin, 10 Sept. 1924, Halifax papers, A4.410/14/1.
123. Grey to Maclean, and Gladstone to Maclean, 12, 14 Aug. 1924, Bodl., MSS Maclean, Dep. c.467, fos. 94-5, 96.
124. 'Ulster boundary crisis', Daily Herald, 29 Apr. 1924;
125. Neville to Ida Chamberlain, 3 Aug. 1924, NC 18/1/446.
126. Churchill to Carson, 18 Sept. 1924, WSC 2/570/118-19.
127. See Churchill to Balfour, 3 Apr. 1924, Scottish Record Office, Arthur Balfour papers (AJB-S), GD 433/2/19, reel 4, for Lloyd George's proposed 'future "Conservative and Liberal Union" Administration'.
128. Austen to Ida Chamberlain, 5 Oct. 1924, AC 5/1/334;
129. Neville to Hilda Chamberlain, 20 Sept. 1924, NC 18/1/452.
130. S 'Ireland today', Quarterly Review, Oct. 1924, p. 371.
131. Amery diary, 19 Sept. 1924, in L. Amery, The Leo Amery diaries, 1: 1896-1929, ed. J. Barnes and D. Nicholson (London, 1980), p. 386.
132. MacDonald to George V, 1 Oct. 1924, PRO 30/69/228.
133. 'Comments', New Statesman, 20 Sept. 1924.
134. MacDonald diary, 30 Sept. 1924, PRO 30/69/1753/1;
135. MacDonald to George V, 1 Oct. 1924, PRO 30/69/228.
136. HC Deb, 177, col. 27, 30 Sept. 1924.
137. Ibid., cols. 37-40.
138. Ibid., cols. 41-5.
139. MacDonald diary, 30 Sept. 1924, PRO 30/69/1753/1.
140. Annual register: 1924, p. 102.
141. HC Deb, 177, col. 363, 420, 468-74, 2 Oct. 1924.
142. Austen to Ida Chamberlain, 5 Oct. 1924, AC 5/1/334.
143. House of Lords debates (HL Deb), 59, cols. 596-600, 8 Oct. 1924.
144. Ibid., cols. 600-3, 8 Oct. 1924;
145. 'The Irish boundary question', Round Table, 57 (1924).
146. HL Deb, 59, cols. 615-16, 650-1, 664, 8 Oct. 1924.
147. Sidney to Beatrice Webb, 2 Oct. 1924, LSE, Passfield papers, 2/3/1/18/191-3.
148. MacDonald to George V, 3 Oct. 1924, PRO 30/69/228.
149. Annual register: 1924, pp. 105-7.
150. Ibid., p. 108.
151. HL Deb, 59, cols. 667-9, 9 Oct. 1924.
152. Annual register: 1924, p. 109.
153. See G. Bennett, History notes, 'a most extraordinary and mysterious business': the Zinoviev letter of 1924, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 14, Feb. 1999, for an inquiry into the most controversial of these charges.
154. Churchill to Balfour, 2 Oct. 1924, AJB-S, GD 433/2/19, reel 4.
155. Annual register: 1924, pp. 116-17;
156. also, see Butler and Freeman, British political facts, pp. 140-4;
157. G. Foote, A chronology of post war British politics (London, 1988), pp. 4, 84, 123, 243;
158. 'The history man. The fight is over', Guardian, 3 May 1997.
159. Annual register: 1924, pp. 116-17.
160. Rhodes James, British Revolution, p. 477.
161. Austen to Ida Chamberlain, 10 Mar. 1923, AC 5/1/268;
162. also, see Spender to Maclean, 2 Oct. 1924, MSS Maclean, Dep. c.467, fos. 134-5.
163. Ramsden, Balfour and Baldwin, p. 199.
164. Note dated 30 Sept. 1924, Hatfield House, Quickswood papers, 33/12.
165. See Harmsworth to Baldwin, 28 Aug. 1924, SB 159, fos. 209-10;
166. Churchill to Carson, 8 Sept. 1924, WSC 2/570/115.
167. Ulster Association to Salisbury, 19 Mar. 1925, S (4) 112/119-20.
168. MacDonald to George V, 3 Oct. 1924, PRO 30/69/228.
169. Wood to Baldwin, 10 Sept. 1924, Halifax papers, A4.410/14/1.
170. \V. S. Churchill, The gathering storm (Boston, 1948), p. 21.
171. See, e.g., Cosgrave's exchange with Chamberlain in I. A. (25)-3rd minutes, 26 Nov. 1925, CAB 27/295.
172. Throughout this article, quotations from the Churchill Papers are reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown Ltd, London, on behalf of the Estate of Sir Winston S. Churchill, Copyright Winston S. Churchill.