 Complete the following phrase:  The agreement was signed in London on 6 December 1921, by representatives of the British government which included Prime Minister David Lloyd George, who was head of the British delegates and by representatives of the Irish Republic including Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith. The Irish representatives had plenipotentiary status negotiators empowered to sign a treaty without reference back to their superiors acting on behalf of the Irish Republic, though the British government declined to recognise that status. As required by its terms, the agreement was approved by a meeting of the members elected to sit in the House of Commons of Southern Ireland and separately by the British Parliament. In reality, Dáil Éireann the legislative assembly for the de facto Irish Republic first debated then approved the treaty; members then went ahead with the meeting. Though the treaty was narrowly approved, the split led to the 