ULSTER - CONSENSUS AND COERCION, PART 1 - RETURN TO DIRECT RULE

• NCJ Number: 62759
• Journal: CONFLICT STUDIES Volume: 50 Dated: (1974) Pages: 1-6
• Author(s): P JANKE
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Institute for the Study of 12/12a Golden Square
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FORCES AFFECTING NORTH-SOUTH RELATIONS IN IRELAND ARE EXAMINED AS IS A POWER SHARING ADMINISTRATION TO UNITE CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT LEADERS AND REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF TERRORISM AND CONFLICT.

Abstract

GREAT BRITAIN PUBLISHED CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS IN 1973, IMPOSING DIRECT RULE FROM WESTMINSTER IN 1974. THE MOVE WAS AN ATTEMPT AT A POWER SHARING ADMINISTRATION TO UNITE CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT LEADERS. THE PROPOSALS WERE MET WITH MIXED REACTIONS IN NORTHERN IRELAND. UNIONIST PARTY LEADERS CAUTIOUSLY ENDORSED THEM AND PREPARED TO COLLABORATE IN THE HOPE OF OBTAINING REVISIONS, BUT MANY CONSTITUENCY ASSOCIATIONS REJECTED THE PROPOSALS. AN AGREEMENT WAS FINALLY REACHED TO ESTABLISH AN EXECUTIVE OF SIX UNIONIST PARTY MEMBERS, FOUR SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY MEMBERS, AND ONE ALLIANCE PARTY MEMBER. CONSENSUS ALSO WAS OBTAINED ON THE FORMATION OF A COUNCIL OF IRELAND TO FACILITATE NORTH-SOUTH RELATIONS. HOWEVER, VIOLENCE ENSUED BECAUSE THE PROTESTANT ELECTORATE OF NORTHERN IRELAND WAS HOSTILE TOWARD CONCILIATORY POLICIES IN THE FORM OF THE POWER SHARING EXECUTIVE. THE ULSTER DEFENCE ASSOCIATION AGREED ON A POLICY STATEMENT TO REITERATE THE HARD LINE OF PROTESTANTS. THIS STATEMENT CALLED FOR ABOLITION OF THE EXECUTIVE, AN END TO THE COUNCIL OF IRELAND IDEA, RESTORATION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR LAW AND ORDER BY THE ROYAL ULSTER CONSTABULARY, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL LEGISLATURE, AND GREATER REPRESENTATION AT WESTMINSTER. A STRIKE, ORGANIZED BY THE ULSTER WORKERS' COUNCIL WAS EVENTUALLY SUPPORTED BY LOYALIST POLITICAL FACTIONS AND PROTESTANT PARAMILITARY FRONTS. THE POWER SHARING EXECUTIVE COLLAPSED AND DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE WERE TEMPORARILY ASSUMED BY WESTMINSTER. IN THIS WAY, AIMS OF THE WORKERS' COUNCIL WERE INDIRECTLY ACHIEVED AND THE STRIKE ENDED. DESPITE PESSIMISM, GREAT BRITAIN SALVAGED THE MAIN PROPOSAL PRINCIPLES BY REAFFIRMING FAITH IN POWER SHARING AND RECOGNIZING THE EXISTENCE OF AN IRISH DIMENSION. THE WAY FORWARD FOR NOTHERN IRELAND, IN POLITICS AND IN THE CONTAINMENT OF TERRORISM, DEPENDS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROVINCE THROUGH INCREASED INVESTMENT AND EMPLOYMENT. (DEP)