British Cabinet Meeting in the Aftermath of Shooting of Henry Wilson
Aftermath of Shooting of Henry
Wilson
Introduction from Chronology
A British cabinet conference of
ministers takes place in aftermath of the killing of Wilson. After the meeting, the British send a letter
to Collins saying that Wilson’s assassins had links to the anti-Treaty men occupying
the Four Courts and “formally” ask that the occupation be brought to an end.
The British cabinet also decided
to attack the Four Courts if the Provisional Government did not do so. Macready (who opposed this move) is told to
return to Dublin and prepare his troops.
More Detail
Macready (still commander of
remaining British Forces in Ireland) was in attendance.
After this conference, a letter
is sent to Collins saying that documents found on Wilson assassins connected
them with the anti-Treaty IRA and went on to say that the Four Courts
occupation and 'the ambiguous position' of the IRA could no longer be
tolerated. “The British Government feels entitled to formally ask you to
bring it to an end forthwith. We are
prepared to place at your disposal the necessary pieces of artillery …”.
As Collins was not in Dublin, a
reply was sent on behalf of the Provisional Government (on the same day) by
Diarmaid O’Hegarty asking for information which the British government said
they had connecting the men in the Four Courts with the Wilson assassination to
be placed at their disposal. O’Hegarty also adds that internal dissension
would destroy the Four Courts anti-Treatyites. (He was obviously aware of
the break in the Anti-Treaty ranks on June 18th – see Jun-18-22/1.)
Churchill refused to release the
information. (Curran says that this was because the documents found on
Wilson’s assassins did not link them with the men in the Four Courts. Fanning says that it was an inaccurate
special branch report. Hart says that
the Special Branch concluded that the killers acting on their own and,
referring to the assassination being ordered by the IRA Executive, says “This
theory has rarely resurfaced”. Lionel Curtis tells Llyod George that they had
nothing “to connect the murder of Wilson with Liam Mellows”.)
On the evening of June 23rd (Townshend says 24th) the British cabinet decides to attack the Four Courts on either June 25th or 26th even though Macready (who was at the meeting) says he strongly opposed this decision. Macready is told to return to Dublin and prepare for the attack. He was told that, if it is finally decided to attack the Four Courts, then he would receive his orders by telephone.