Treaty Ports (Ireland) - Early Proposal of De Valera Re Ports

Early Proposal of De Valera Re Ports

Ironically, in his preferred version of the Treaty that was rejected, the republicans' leader Éamon de Valera had offered in Article 8 to allow the same status in the same ports, but only for a period of five years. He went further than the Treaty by suggesting in clause (b) that in wartime the British could use whatever harbours they "may reasonably require". This was impolitic to recall in the 1930s.

8. That for five years, pending the establishment of Irish coastal defence forces, or for such other period as the Governments of the two countries may later agree upon, facilities for the coastal defence of Ireland shall be given to the British Government as follows:

(a) In time of peace such harbour and other facilities as are indicated in the Annex hereto, or such other facilities as may from time to time be agreed upon between the British Government and the Government of Ireland.

(b) In time of war such harbour and other Naval facilities as the British Government may reasonably require for the purposes of such defence as aforesaid.