Collins' policy toward Northern Ireland was ambiguous. He told the Dáil during the Treaty debates that, 'We have stated we would not coerce the North-East ... Surely we recognise that the North-East corner does exist, and surely our intention was that we should take such steps as would sooner or later lead to mutual understanding. The Treaty has made an effort to deal with it .. on lines that will lead very rapidly to goodwill, and the entry of the North-East under the Irish Parliament. I don't say it is an ideal arrangement, but if our policy is, as has been stated, a policy of non-coercion'.