10 September 1923: The Irish Free State was admitted to the League of Nations OTD. This marked a significant advance for the new State that was less than a year in existence at that time. The League was set up in the aftermath of the Great War to bring together Nations so that another World War could be avoided through the uses of dialogue and negotiations between its members. The new Irish State was anxious to join the organisation so as to secure recognition on the world stage as a political entity in its own right that was not reliant on its status as a Dominion of the British Commonwealth on the international stage.

The intention had always been to join up since its foundation in 1920 at the end of the  Paris Peace Conference but Ireland’s efforts to join were blocked by the British as they refused to accept Irelands separation from the Empire as an individual State. With signing of Anglo Irish Treaty of December1921 such a State came into operation conditional being a Dominion within the British Empire. The formal application for membership began in 1922, when Ireland’s representative in Geneva Michael MacWhite inquired from the league’s secretariat how the Provisional Government of Ireland might apply for membership. After a series of glitches which were ironed out the stage was set for the Irish Free State to formally join the League on 10 September 1923. 

A high delegation was dispatched from Dublin to Geneva to give maximum publicity to this entry of Ireland onto the stage of international politics. It was led by the President of the executive council WT Cosgrave and amongst others Hugh Kennedy (Attorney General), Eoin MacNeill (Minister for Education), Michael MacWhite (Permanent Representative to the League of Nations) and Desmond FitzGerald (Minister for External Affairs). Addressing the assembly Cosgrave began his address in the Irish language and then spoke in English to the assembled delegates of the other Nations of the World present that day, concluding that Ireland “resolved to play her part” in making “this great institution for peace as complete and efficient as possible.”

Alas the League was to be a rather anaemic body in its efforts to stem conflicts and the spread of War. Despite some minor successes in the 1920s it could not handle the aggressive tactics in particular of Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in the 1930s. The absence of the United States of America from its proceedings greatly hampered its efforts to resolve international disputes and the Soviet Union was expelled in 1939. It was wrapped up in the aftermath of WWII and its duties taken over by the United Nations based in New York USA.

 Picture 1: :The Irish delegation to the League of Nations in Geneva when Ireland was admitted in September 1923, seated, from left, Hugh Kennedy (Attorney General), WT Cosgrave (President of the Executive Council), Eoin MacNeill (Minister for Education); standing, Michael MacWhite (Permanent Representative to the League of Nations), Desmond FitzGerald (Minister for External Affairs), The Marquis MacSwiney of Mashonaglas (substitute delegate), Kevin O’Sheil (assistant legal adviser), Ormond Grattan Esmond TD (delegate), Diarmaid O’Hegarty (cabinet secretary), Gearóid McGann (secretary to the president of the executive council). Photograph: The National Archives

 Picture 2: A League of Nations Conference at Geneva, Switzerland, September 1923. Photograph: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images