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October 7th: David Lloyd - George the British Prime Minister advised that he together with Austen Chamberlain, Lord Birkenhead of whom Michael Collins was to say it was an honour to work with, Winston Churchill, Sir Worthington - Evans, Sir Hamar Greenwood and Sir Gordon Hewart would represent their side in any discussions with the members of the 2nd Dail Eireann. Eamonn de Valera with the knowledge he had gained prior of David Lloyd - George's attitude to the question of Irish Independence still refused to go as the head of the delegation although he was the President of the 2nd Dail Eireann. Cathal Brugha and Austin Stack who were at odds with Michael Collins also refused to go, which allowed them the luxury of criticism without any responsibility to what was to occur over the Anglo - Irish Treaty. Instead Eammon de Valera wanted to send Michael Collins who was personally upset about this fact, as he rightly considered that he was the leader of the military aggression against the British Imperial Government in Ireland while Eammon de Valera was the actual leader of the Irish people. The appointment of Michael Collins was also objected to by Arthur Griffith for these very same reasons but it was finally decided by the Irish Cabinet for him to go and this was ratified by the 2nd Dail Eireann. Miss Mac Swiney and Joseph Mac Donagh had wanted to impose conditions on the Irish Delegates but Eammon de Valera personally objected and warned the Dail Eireann Cabinet," That there could be no question of their being in a position to dictate their own terms to the British Government and therefore differences of opinion would occur on the Irish side and if the final proposals were not acceptable they could always elect a New Cabinet."

October 8th: All of the previously assigned Irish Delegates from the 2nd Dail Eireann left for London except for Michael Collins, with no actual guidance at all, to resume the Anglo - Irish Treaty talks with the British Government, except not to sign until the agreement was approved in Dublin and on their arrival in England they were met by a very large enthusiastic crowd of supporters.

October 9th: Michael Collins arrived in London unannounced to escape recognition leaving Liam Tobin to act on his behalf as the Director of Intelligence in Ireland and while there he was able to attend daily mass at the Brompton Oratory and would return to Ireland on occasions to carry out his Dail Eireann responsibilities including those concerning financial matters.

October 11th: The meeting with the British Government was held at Downing Street were it was made known to David Lloyd - George that the Irish delegates would not shake hands with Sir Hamar Greenwood who had caused so much death and destruction in Ireland so they were placed either side of the table and introduced to each other across it and during the discussions David Lloyd - George kept referring to the Irish members with the terms of, "Your Parliament" and "Your Government." Michael Collins wrote home stating. " You know the way it is, either way it will be wrong, you might say the trap is sprung." The Dail Eireann Delegates were left with three choices to conclude on the 6 Counties Artificially Partitioned from the 9 in the Ulster Province under the control of the Official Unionist Ascendancy who still refused to join in Unity with the rest of Ireland, take Dominion status as against the Irish Republic, which was sharply opposed, and leave Eammon de Valera's idea of External Association to the very last.

October 14th - 21s: Arthur Griffith took over the Anglo - Irish Treaty Delegation together with Michael Collins, Robert Barton, Eamonn Duggan and Gavin George Duffy, a son of Charles Gavin Duffy the Young Irelander leader who had become the Premier of Victoria in Australia. Patrick O Driscoll's brother in law the ex - English Army Officer Erskine Childers had also been bought in as their secretary by Eamonn de Valera against the wishes of Arthur Griffith. Fionan Lynch, John Chartres and Diarmait O Hegarty who were their assistant secretaries. Eamonn de Valera, Cathal Brugha and Austin Stack were now left in control of Ireland.

October 19th: The Pope sent a letter to the British King George V stating that he hoped the results of the Anglo - Irish Conference would bring to an end the, "Age Long dissension" and David Lloyd - George replied on his behalf stating, "It may initiate a new era of peace and happiness for "My People." Eammon de Valera wrote to the Pope stating, " That the Troubles are in Ireland were the people of Ireland are physically forced to owe allegiance to the British King."

October 21st: The Irish Anglo - Irish Treaty Delegates had a meeting as the Allegiance to the British Crown was on the agenda and notified Eammon de Valera of the results of their discussions who informed them that there could be no allegiance to the British King and that War was the only other alternative. Michael Collins wanted Eammon de Valera to get ready to go to London for the crucial final meeting but he said he wouldn't go and informed them also to refer any decision back to him. This upset the Irish Delegates who had previously received a free hand to make the final decision from the Dail Eireann Cabinet and the 2nd Dail Eireann while Eammon de Valera had refused to participate and Arthur Griffith wrote expressing their anger at his intervention, which was inconsistent with the Cabinet decision. He further informed him that if they could not continue on uninhibited they would resign and to this end the correspondence was signed by all the Irish Delegates.

October 24th: By now the Anglo - Irish Treaty Irish Delegates had attended 7 meetings with the British Government representatives in regard to both their responsibilities as to Air and Naval Defence, their Financial Relations and the actual observance of the Treaty over the proceeding fortnight and the Irish Delegates had agreed to accept the British King as the head of the Association of States, which was also acceptable to Eammon de Valera who persuaded Cathal Brugha but they were still firm on no allegiance to the British King.

October 30th: Arthur Griffith met with David Lloyd - George at Winston Churchill's and David Lloyd - George told him he wanted recognition of the British Crown, a free partnership with the British Imperial Empire and Naval facilities in Ireland and in return he would make a fight on the 6 Counties Artificially Partitioned from the 9 in the Ulster Province to ensure the Unity of Ireland. David Lloyd - George now felt that the meetings with all the Irish Delegates present was too cumbersome and basically wanted to meet only with Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins and one or two of his own British colleagues. As a result the negotiations were now continued by sub - committees with Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins representing Ireland and David Lloyd - George and Lord Birkenhead representing Britain. Because of this arrangement Robert Barton and Gavin George Duffy became estranged from the others while Arthur Griffith kept Eammon de Valera informed on all the discussions and Erskine Childers sent him the minutes of all the meetings and his own personal observations. The Irish Delegates themselves were to return to Ireland on several occasions to report on the meetings and Michael Collins returned basically on the weekends and had discussions with the Dail Eireann Cabinet members. The subject of Ireland's association with the British Crown and the 6 Artificially Partitioned Counties from the 9 in the Ulster Province were left to the last minute.

Sir James Craig and his Ascendancy Official Unionist Cabinet who were now in control in the 6 Artificially Partitioned Counties from the 9 in the Ulster Province had refused to discuss any chance of Irish Unity as an All - Ireland Government, it could only be now hoped that the British Government enforced Partition of Ireland would eventually become unworkable in the 6 Counties.

November 1st: Arthur Griffith trying to come up with a compromise composed a letter to David Lloyd - George acknowledging the British Crown but Charles Gavin Duffy, Robert Barton and Erskine Childers opposed it so he rewrote it.

November 4th: Charles Gavin Duffy went especially to Dublin to advise Eammon de Valera about Arthur Griffith's letter acknowledging the British Crown but he seemed to be unconcerned about it.

November 8th: 9 informal meetings were also to be held by the Irish Delegates, regarding the Anglo - Irish Treaty, with Thomas Jones up until December 4th.

November 13th: As the Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown and the Artificial Partition of the 6 Counties from the 9 in the Ulster Province were the basic problems Arthur Griffith trying to bring about a solution to one of these gave his own personal assent to a British Government document intending to appease the Official Unionist leaders, giving them the option after one month after the ratification of the Treaty to become part of Ireland or remain in the United Kingdom. A Boundary Commission would be set up to divide the territories and this document would be used against him later by David Lloyd - George. Winston Churchill, Smith and Lord Birkenhead who had given an undertaking to Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins that only 4 Counties in the Ulster Province would be involved if the Artificial Partition occurred, which would be unworkable and they would be then forced to return to the whole of Ireland.

In Dublin the 2nd Dail Eireann Cabinet reaffirmed their original instructions and powers to the Irish Delegates participating in the Treaty talks with Eammon de Valera, W.T. Cosgrave, Cathal Brugha, Austin Stack and Kevin O Higgins firm on no allegiance to the British King although they agreed they would recognize him as the head of the British Commonwealth as the head of the Association of States, but not individual states.

November 14th: Erskine Childers returned also personally to see Eammon de Valera in Dublin to advise him of the seriousness of the situation but he too also failed to make any real impression upon him as he had been well aware of the situation beforehand.

November 16th: Arthur Griffith had a meeting in London with the Southern Irish Unionists, including Sir Andrew Jameson the Earl of Midleton and Dr. Bernard the Provost of Trinity College where they agreed that a Senate should also be set up in Ireland.

November 21st: Irish men who were not involved in any of the shootings, which occurred, during the Truce were picked up and accused of carrying out the shootings then Court Martialled and executed.

November 25th: The 2nd Dail Eireann Cabinet had a meeting with all in attendance including the Irish Delegates back from London and Arthur Griffith was to previously spend time alone with Eammon de Valera outlining the result of their negotiations with the British Government and the Dail Eireann Ministers agreed that Ireland should recognize Britain by association as the head of a combination of Associated States for common concerns. This included Defence, Peace & War, the British Crown as the head of the associations and vote a sum to the British King's Civil list with Legislative and Executive authority derived from Ireland's elected representatives.

November 29th: Eammon de Valera informed Harry Boland that the British Imperial Government had given an ultimatum of allegiance to their King, or else, which really meant outright War but Michael Collins saw no prospect of success for the Irish if it was resumed.

+On to 1921 - 8 - December

Situated on the western bank of the Hunter River, midway between Muswellbrook and Denman the doorway to the Heart of Australia's "Horse Capital" in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales., Australia.

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