What changes did Eamon de Valera seek in Ireland’s relationship with Britain?

Eamon de Valera’s primary objective as head of government was to dismantle the restrictions on Irish sovereignty imposed by the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. His efforts to redefine Ireland’s relationship with Britain included several key actions:

• Constitutional Reform: He systematically removed references to the British crown and the governor-general from the Irish constitution. This culminated in the 1937 constitution, which established Ireland as a sovereign, independent democracy, maintaining only a tenuous link to the British Commonwealth for diplomatic purposes.12
• Economic Sovereignty: De Valera ceased the payment of land annuities to the British treasury, triggering an "economic war" characterized by retaliatory tariffs. This dispute was eventually settled through a 1938 finance and trade agreement.12
• Military Independence: He successfully negotiated the return of three strategic naval bases—Cobh, Berehaven, and Lough Swilly—that Britain had retained under the 1921 treaty. This agreement was essential for establishing Ireland’s neutrality during World War II.12

Through these unilateral and negotiated steps, de Valera fundamentally transformed Ireland’s status from a dominion to a sovereign state.1