Sixth Session of the
First Dáil
Introduction from Chronology
The Dáil, over these two days, deals with issues such as the Dáil
court system and the report of the Land Bank Committee.
Crucially, the Dáil decides that an Oath of Allegiance to the
Irish Republic should be taken by all (1) Dáil deputies; (2) Members of the
Irish Volunteers; (3) officials of the Dáil and (4) others as determined by the
Dáil.
More
Detail
1.
Dáil Loan
Collins reports on the progress of his Finance Committee (see
Aug-12-19/1) and says that “this work must go ahead quickly”. Even though the Dáil voted to increase the
amount of the American Loan from $250,000 to $5m, the launch of this loan was
running into trouble due to (a) running into problems with the American
authorities because the loan could not be described as a government bond as the
Republic of Ireland was not officially recognised so a way have to be found to
circumvent this (they were called “bond certificates”) and (b) Because of his
problems with the FOIF group (See Jun-01-19/1 and Aug-1919/2), de Valera has to
delay the launch of the American or External Loan until January 1920. This put
extra pressure on the success of the Dáil Loan in Ireland. On August 21st, the Honorary
Secretaries of Sinn Féin report “Upon this loan the whole success of the
constructive policy of Dáil Éireann depends.”
Around this time, Daithi O’Donoghue was
appointed secretary to the Trustees of the Loan (O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg 55). He was to
become critical to the success of the loan.
It was O’Donoghue (or Ó Donnchadha) who set up
dummy accounts in banks around Dublin into which to lodge Loan money. This was a
(most successful) attempt to keep Loan money away from the prying eyes of
Dublin Castle. Sometimes these accounts were set up with fictitious names but
more often in the names of trusted supporters.
Dublin Castle set up an investigation to locate where the funds
collected by the Dáil Loan were being held - see Dec-30-19/1.
2.
Industrial Commission
Griffith tells the Dáil that the work of the Commission is
expected to start next month. Darrell
Figgis is appointed Secretary to the Commission. See Sep-21-19/1.
3. Court System
Griffith reports on the progress in setting up the court system. A
proposal is put forward to set up not only local courts but also district
courts and a supreme court. This
proposal is approved but little happens.
See Oct-27-19/2.
4. Land Bank Committee
Barton’s committee on the land
bank reports and its proposal to set up a National Co-operative Mortgage Bank
is accepted. In December 1919, the bank
is set up and Barton is placed in charge of this bank. See Oct-27-19/2.
5. Dáil Oath
In what was to prove to be the most controversial action in this
session, a motion is put by Brugha to the Dáil that
an Oath of Allegiance to the Republic should be taken by all (1) Dáil deputies;
(2) Members of the Irish Volunteers; (3) officials of the Dáil and (4) others
as determined by the Dáil.
The Oath states "I will support and defend the Irish Republic
and the Government of the Irish Republic, which is Dáil Eireann, against all
enemies foreign and domestic..." Motion proposed by Cathal Brugha and seconded by
Terence MacSwiney. Former says that “The present Constitution governing
the Irish Volunteers prevented them from being subject to any other body but
their own Executive. At the next Convention they proposed to ask them as a
standing army to swear allegiance to the Dáil, and it was but fair and just
that all Members of the Dáil, and all officials of the Dáil, should likewise
subscribe to an Oath of Allegiance.” Motion strongly supported by
Griffith who said that the army and government of the country could not be
under separate authority. Passed by 35 votes to 5.
Comment on the Oath
This motion was seen by some as an attempt by Brugha
to blunt the influence of the IRB as the oath would supercede
the oath that bound together the IRB.
(After 1916, both Brugha and de Valera thought
the IRB had outlived its usefulness.) It
did cause some unease to Collins who was President of the IRB Supreme Council
and other IRB men. However, by August 25th, Collins writes to de
Valera and says “The Volunteer affair is now fixed.” Nevertheless,
according to Florence O’Donoghue, the oath was not administered until the
autumn of 1920 and, even then, perhaps not to all members. In practice, the Volunteers remained a
separate organisation. According to Mitchell, in September the IRB amended
its constitution to provide for the oath of allegiance.
O’Malley (1990) says that with the oath the Irish Volunteers (IV)
was to become the Irish Republican Army (IRA) but see Townshend (2014), pg 89.