British Press Reaction to British
Government Proposals
Introduction
from Chronology
Correspondence between Lloyd George and de Valera published (by Lloyd
George) to favourable reception in Britain. Letter from James Craig to
Llyod George also published in which he says that he would not meet with de
Valera until he admits that Northern Ireland is independent from the rest of
Ireland.
Most of the British press say that the terms offered by Llyod George to
de Valera were very favourable.
Writing to his wife, Austen Chamberlain says (on August 16th) “All the
Press, except the Morning Post, is
favourable to our Irish proposals and agreed that we have gone to the utmost
limit of concession”.
Comment
Commenting on the reaction of British public opinion to the proposals
made by Llyod George on July 20th, Boyce concluded “That offer had been wrung
from the government only at the last moment and after a protracted and bitter
struggle which caused a revolt of the British conscience; but once it was made,
and made publicly, British public opinion decided that its leaders had
adequately recompensed the Irish: justice had not only been done, it had been
seen to be done”. It is probably fair to
say that the opinion of most people on the other side of the Irish Sea would
not have agreed with Boyce’s conclusion.