Irish independence: Jan smuts and Eamon de Valera

Abstract

The South African politician Jan Smuts foresaw fundamental changes in the British Empire as World War I reached its conclusion. The aspirations to nationhood of the separate Dominions were high on his agenda: he played a key role in the adjustments made to the constitutional relationships across the Empire and supported the change of name to Commonwealth. National freedom for Ireland was a prominent part of the evolution that Smuts advocated, and he was disappointed that Lloyd George pursued a policy of violence and confrontation when independence was declared in 1919. Smuts favoured the release of the imprisoned Sinn Fein leadership, including Eamon de Valera, and found an ally in King George V, whose Belfast speech of June 1921 prompted a sudden reversal of policy by the government and an espousal of negotiation with the Irish. Smuts persuaded de Valera to attend inconclusive talks initially with the British Government in London, which later led to the establishment of the Irish Free State and eventually to Ireland's departure from the Commonwealth. De Valera was later to blame Smuts for the British government's rejection of proposals which would have allowed Ireland to remain a member of the Commonwealth.