Struggling toward Statehood

AT the end of November Michael Collins had proposed a new oath to be attached to the draft treaty: “I... do solemnly swear to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the Irish Free State as by law established and that I will be faithful to His Majesty King George in acknowledgment of the Association of Ireland in a common citizenship with Great Britain and the group of nations known as the British Commonwealth.”

The wording of the oath, and the differing requirements for it between Eamon de Valera and Erskine Childers on the one side, and Collins and Arthur Griffith on the other, sowed confusion and discord for the rest of the Treaty process. Griffith had already made it clear that he did not intend to break off negotiations over the issue of the crown.

A Cabinet meeting was called for December 3, 1921, at the Mansion House.