Collapse of Second Collins-Craig Pact

Introduction from Chronology

In a letter to Churchill, Collins says that the Collins-Craig pact was a “dead letter”.

According to McMahon, that following the collapse, “the British government sided with the representations of the Belfast authorities, threw its full support behind their security policies … - it no longer tried to be a neutral mediator between Collins and Craig”.

Comment

It would have to questioned the extent to which the British government was ever a “neutral mediator between Collins and Craig”. For example, financing of the Specials (which was probably illegal under British law); not ensuring proper security in Belfast when a disproportionate number of innocent Catholics were being killed by loyalists and Crown Forces; not insisting that Craig fulfil his undertakings in the Collins-Craig pacts; etc.

More generally, Churchill indicated clearly where his sympathies lay in his speech in the British House of Commons on February 16^th when he said, while he was careful to maintain fair play in dealing with the two Irish governments, that “though we are impartial we cannot be indifferent. Naturally, our hearts warm towards those in the North who are helping, and have helped so long, to keep the old flag flying” (See Feb-16-22/3). See also Mar-09-22/1.

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