The Abandoned Truce

The war against the Irish republicans restarted when Free State troops captured more than a dozen irregulars near Blessington, County Wicklow. Since then large captures of the so-called republicans were made.

The Dail Eireann -- Free State Parliament--gave full consideration to the De Valera peace proposals. It characterized them as childish and irrelevant. Even Deputy Johnson, Irish Laborite, said: " I think too much importance is attached to a general election to find out the people's will. ... It should be obvious to De Valera that the people's will was very clearly expressed, not by votes but by conduct, action and acceptance of the Government Constitution and the jurisdiction of the Dail and the Senate."

The Dail supported its President, William Cosgrave, in his stand against De Valera. Cosgrave said that the republican proposals were unacceptable and a breach of the Constitution. He would not enter into further communications with De Valera, but, nevertheless, he would welcome any real Irish peace on the basis of the Free State Treaty with Great Britain.

Among the De Valera demands: a return of firearms to the republicans; the oath of allegiance to King George made optional; the liberation of republican funds in America at present under injunction; in fact, he wanted to secure a firm basis for the republican party in Ireland.

The most significant aspect of the Free State refusal to join in the proffered republican armistice is that the Free Staters consider the offer as the last and forlorn hope of the irregulars.