The United Kingdom was recovering from the Second World War .
Ireland remained economically dependent on the latter , which represented nearly 75 % of United Kingdom 's exports and this was codified in the Anglo - Irish Free trade agreement of 1966 .
The United Kingdom was recovering from the Second World War and Ireland remained economically dependent on the latter , which represented nearly 75 % of its exports and this was codified in the Anglo - Irish Free trade agreement of 1966 .