PR81/1/3 Anglo-Irish Treaty, Ulster Special Mission and Civil War (1921-1929)
PR81/1/3/C Ulster Special Mission (Nov 1921 Jan 1922)
Reference: PR81/1/3/C/03
Date: c.1921
Title:
TS. Report on case for all Ireland trade area, by the Economic Relations Committee (Department of Economic Affairs, Dublin)
Reference: PR81/1/3/C
Date: 21 November 1921 - 31 January 1922
Title: Level:
Ulster Special Mission
Level:
Extent: 7 pages
item
Extent: 28 Items
sub-series
Scope and Content: Typescript article or committee paper titled ‘The Ulster Case’. Argues that fears in Ulster of increased taxation on their industry in event of a United Ireland are ‘utterly without foundation’. Conversely ‘if Ulster is included in the British unit, it is simply a small and unimportant section of an area full of competitors in every branch of industry which it pursues’. Refers to a United Ireland trade area as part of a ‘protected area’ that Ulster should join for the benefit of Ulster. Includes also a set of five observations on the matter by ‘Mr O’Neill’ (1 page), and a memo from Mr J.C. Dowdall (James Charles Dowdall) to Mr Smith-Gordon (1 page).
Scope and Content: Items originally held in folder marked ‘Confidential. Ulster - Economic and Industrial Position, Political, Industrial, Financial’. These include significant sensitive reports on the economic condition and outlook of the north of Ireland. The file includes letters from members of the business community in the north including the owners of large factories in the manufacture of food, drinks, tobacco, and linen. Also present are four official reports written by Fawsitt after a number of visits to the north where he conducted interviews in person with the local business community. These shed significant light on the hopes and fears of the business community following proposed partition of Ireland. The reports also demonstrate feeling regarding the impact of the war of independence and the immediate damage of the boycott of the purchase of goods from the north in the south, known as the Belfast boycott. Fawsitt was initially sent to Belfast under orders from Eamon de Valera in late November and later under instructions from Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith. The reports are therefore of national significance in their role informing cabinet at the crucial period of the Anglo-Irish treaty debates in Dail Eireann.
Reference: PR81/1/3/C/04
Date: c.1921
Title:
MS. Notes on Ulster trade, taxation, banking, and industry by unidentified writer, (Department of Economic Affairs, Dublin)
Level:
Extent: 7 pages
item
Scope and Content: Set of manuscript notes on the subject of ‘north-east Ulster’ trade and industry. Includes note on total exports from Belfast for the year 1919 for cattle, wool, pork, bacon, butter, milk and other products. The notes end with the question ‘for what period are the free [trade] schedules to be operative? 5 or 10 years or for ever?’.
Reference: PR81/1/3/C/01
Date: c.1921
Title:
TS. List of Principal and Secondaries Industries of Northern Ireland, by the Economic Relations Committee (Ministry of Economic Affairs, Dublin)
Level:
Extent: 2 pages
item
Scope and Content: Printed list of the principal industries and secondary industries in ‘the six county area’, prepared by the Economic Relations Committee. Principal industries referred to include agriculture, cement, feeding stuffs, making up (clothing), tobacco, brass, copper and metalwork, machinery, ship boat and aeroplane building, and others. Secondary industries referred to include salt, glass bottles, lead piping and others.
Reference: PR81/1/3/C/05
Date: c.1921
Title:
TS. Report on anticipated impact of any customs and tariffs imposed on the north of Ireland by the south, and Memo of objections from the Ulster business community to an All-Ireland trade area and parliament, by George W. Russell
Level:
Extent: 2 items
file
Scope and Content: 1. Paper titled ‘The Effects of the Imposition By the Parliament of Southern Ireland of Customs Tariffs on Goods Consigned from Northern Ireland to Southern Ireland Considered in its Relation to the Revenue and Trade of Northern Ireland’ (3 pages), undated. 2. Paper titled ‘Memo on the Ulster Manufacturers Objection to Irish Freedom of Trade’ by George W. Russell (1 page), undated. Sets out reasons for opposition by Ulster manufacturers to an all Ireland parliament with complete control over trade policy, customs and excise.
Reference: PR81/1/3/C/02
Date: c.1921
Title:
TS. Report on Financial and Economic Position of Northern Ireland, by the Economic Relations Committee (Ministry of Economic Affairs, Dublin)
Level:
Extent: 18 pages
item
Scope and Content: Typescript article or committee paper titled ‘Financial and Economic Position of North-East Ulster’, covering counties Antrim, Down, Derry, Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh and the county boroughs of Belfast and Derry. Includes analysis of points made by the British Treasury in relation to the budget and supposed surplus of the proposed Northern Ireland parliament after payment for all public services is deducted. Includes also statistical accounts of the valuation and population of the area, tabulated at £4,770,159, and 1,250,491 persons. Suggests an increase in taxation of £2 per head would be required to meet public debt deficit.
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