Fianna Fail in Power – Foreign Policies 1932-39

Fianna Fail in Power – Foreign Policies 1932-39



Anglo-Irish Agreement

1. In 1938 the Irish Government agreed to a one-off payment of £10million in final settlement of the land annuities

2. All tariffs on goods were lifted by both countries.

3. Britain handed back the ‘treaty ports’ to Ireland.

4. This facilitated Ireland remaining neutral during World War Two.

1937 Constitution

1. In 1937 the Fianna Fail Government introduced a new constitution entitled Bunreacht na hÉireann

2. The Constitution copper-fastened the changes already made to the Anglo-Irish Treaty

3. Ireland was now a republic in all but name.

4. It is possible that De Valera felt the British would have reacted if he had declared a republic at this time.

External Relations Act 1936

1. In 1936 the abdication of King Edward VIII to marry a divorced woman, Mrs. Wallis Simpson, caused a constitutional crisis in Britain.

2. De Valera seized the opportunity to introduce new legislation into the Dail.

3. The Constitutional Amendment Act removed all mention of the King and Governor General from the Constitution.

4. The External Relations Act greatly reduced the role of the King in Irish Affairs. Ireland was now ‘associated’ with the Commonwealth rather than being a full member.



Governor General

1. De Valera wanted to reduce the importance of the office of Governor General

2. He asked the Governor General, James MacNeill, not to attend public function, MacNeill declined.

3. De Valera and the cabinet refused to attend any functions attended by MacNeill.

4. De Valera advised King to dismiss MacNeill on the basis that the King was supposed to act on the advice of the cabinet.

5. De Valera replaced MacNeill with a Fianna Fail loyalist who took no part in public affairs.

6. The office was abolished in 1937.

The Economic War

1. In 1932 De Valera refused to pay land annuities to Britain.

2. The British retaliated by imposing 20% customs duty on Irish imports.

3. The Dail then placed customs duties on many British imports into Ireland.

4. These measures caused severe economic hardship in Ireland.

5. In 1935 the Coal-Cattle Pact was agreed allowing for Irish cattle to be exported to Britain and British coal to be imported into Ireland.



Abolish the Senate

1. The Senate was dominated by Cumann na nGaedheal (and then Fine Gael) and often delayed Bills passed by the Fianna Fail government.

2. The Senate was a major obstacle to his efforts to dismantle the Treaty.

3. In 1934 his introduced a Bill to abolish the Senate which came into Law in 1936.

4. A reformed Senate was established in the 1937 Constitution.

Removing the Oath

1. On 22 March 1932 de Valera informed the British of his intention to remove the Oath of Allegiance using the Statute of Westminster.

2. In April the Constitution (Removal of the Oath) Bill was passed by the Dail but delayed by the Senate – something which annoyed de Valera.



3. British opposed the removal of the Oath claiming it was an essential part of the Treaty. De Valera ignored them.

Dismantling the Treaty

1. De Valera appoints himself as Minister for External Affairs.

2. Realises dismantling the Treaty will cause tension with Britain.

3. De Valera was active in the League of Nations to build support for when he dismantled the Treaty.

League of Nations

1. In 1932 Ireland took over chairmanship of the General Assembly.

2. De Valera appointed President of the Council and acting President of the General Assembly.

3. Opportunity to promote himself and the newly emerging Ireland.

4. De Valera was critical of the weaknesses of the League of Nations.

1932 General Election

1. During the 1932 election campaign Fianna Fail made two main promises

2. First – the abolition of land annuities

3. Second – dismantling the Anglo-Irish Treaty.