Comment
on Government of Ireland Act
Hopkinson
says that it was introduced as otherwise the suspended Third Home Rule Act of
1914 would have had to be implemented with the conclusion of the [Versailles] Peace
Treaties in the spring of 1920. He describes the Government of Ireland Bill as
a "messy compromise". (He also says that it introduced in Westminster
in December 1919 rather than Feb 25 1920 as Curran claims). Phoenix would
seem to sort out the last point indicating that it ‘trailed’ by Llyod George in the House of Commons on the 22nd
December 1919 but formally introduced in February. (However, Phoenix does give the date as the February 26th.)
Phoenix points out that Devlin was in a quandary on how best to oppose the Bill
– he eventually decided to oppose it in the House of Commons.