Foreign Affairs 1949-1969

Declaration of an Irish Republic

1. Since the External Relations Act 1936 Ireland had only a slender connection with the British Commonwealth

2. Taoiseach John A Costello believed that if Ireland became a Republic it might ‘take the gun out of Irish politics’

3. In 1948 during a visit to Canada Costello announced that the government would declare a Republic.

4. The Irish Republic was declared at Easter 1949

5. The expanding British economy needed Irish workers so both countries avoided controversy

6. Northern Ireland was to continue to be ‘complicated’

Northern Ireland

1. The British government reacted to the declaration of a Republic by stating that Northern Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom as long as a majority of the parliament in Stormont favoured it.

2. The Irish government responded by launching an ‘anti-partition campaign’.

3. The campaign had little impact but alienated Unionists in the North and the British government.

External Affairs

1. The Irish government refused to join NATO.

2. Ireland joined the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).

3. This was a condition of receiving aid under the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Aid assisted the Irish economy.

IRA Border Campaign

1. In 1956 the IRA launched ‘Operation Harvest’.

2. A military campaign attacking RUC stations on the border from the South.

3. The Irish government and the Northern Ireland government introduced internment and arrested known IRA members.

4. While few people supported the Border Campaign – many people had sympathy with the republican cause.

 

Emerging from Isolation

1. In late 1950s Ireland began to emerge from isolation

2. Closer economic links with Britain

3. 1965 Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement

4. Ireland applied to join the EEC along with Britain

5. EEC application was blocked by France because they opposed British membership.

United Nations

1. Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955

2. Between 1960-1964 Irish troops took part in peace-keeping duties in the Congo

3. In 1960 the Irish ambassador to the UN was President of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

 

Lemass – O’Neill Talks

1. Lemass and Whitaker attempted to open dialogue with the Unionist government in the North in non-political areas such as fisheries and tourism

2. When Terence O’Neill became Northern Prime Minister he invited Lemass to visit Belfast

3. Reaction in the North was mixed but the visit was welcomed in the South. Hardline Unionists led by Ian Paisley protested against the Talks.

4. O’Neill visited Dublin a month later

5. Moves towards greater co-operation was impacted by the ‘Troubles’