I stated that each Wednesday I would ponder how different things might have turned out for us if different choices had been made.Today I will look at what might have happened if the Anglo-Irish Treaty had not been agreed by the delegates sent by de Valera.

On December 5th,1921,Lloyd George issues an ultimatum to the delegates-accept or reject the terms by 10pm.Failure to do so would result in "an immediate and terrible war".
Here's what could have happened:

• Collins and the other delegates decide they cannot accept the terms and inform Lloyd George of their decision.
• A furious Lloyd George prepares to increase troop numbers while the British media blasts the Irish delegates.The USA is told that the Irish have ruined the chance for peace.The support for Irish independence in Britain and America drops.
• To the surprise of the British,the IRA collapses in a matter of weeks.The Irish public are angry at Sinn Fein for not finding a resolution.Collins is criticised by some Irish people for not having the guts to sign the Treaty offered.The Irish are also angry as partition remains.
• The British offer fresh Treaty talks after angry protest marches by disgruntled Irish people angry at their situation as well as their concerns for nationalists in the Northern State.The British have been imposing Direct Rule upon Southern Ireland since the collapse of the IRA.They inform the delegates the original offer is no longer available and that they must accept the Southern Ireland government(which can be renamed as Saorstat Eireann) or else face an "indefinite term" of Direct Rule.The British offer the south no more than the North.
• De Valera will not tolerate the South as part of the UK and splits with Sinn Fein to form Fianna Fail.A civil war follows as de Valera seeks the Irish people to push for the Dominion Status originally offered by the British.Dev remarks it would bring the "freedom to achieve freedom".
• Collins gets assasssinated in 1923.
• Irish people annoyed by the treatment by the British and the death of Collins back the IRA and the Southern Ireland government(Free State) falls in 1924 and the British once more introduce Direct Rule.This angers the Irish people and what's more,the angry Northern State takes its fury and paranoia out on the nationalist community.
• The British offer the Irish the terms they did in 1921.De Valera returns to Ireland a hero for getting the Treaty.

Anyone care to comment on this rewriting of history?