The first priority in Ulster
That Mr Ian Paisley has added his scorn to the threats Which the Provisional IRA have directed against the women's peace movement in Northern Ireland is merely an indication of how important that movement has become. The gibes of the Moderator of a Presbyterian sect whose authenticity has been called in question by more established bodies count for less than the warnings of Proven gunmen, however. But the hostility which the Peace movement has aroused on the part of all who atgain and again since 1969 have sought to divide rather 11,an unite the people of Northern Ireland underlines the tv,Ital necessity of providing adequate protection for .nose in the province whose principal hope and ambition Is the achievement of peace. ti it seems unlikely that such protection will be afforded Gnem by the present Secretary of State or by the present °vernment. Awareness of the dangers in their consistt.ntlY muted approach to security has caused the Oppositi°n spokesman on Northern Ireland, Mr Airey Neave, 4° end what had become over the years virtually a rnadition of bipartisanship between the parties at WestatInster. Ministers have repeatedly exhorted the moder, es. of Northern Ireland to stand up and be counted 'igainst the thugs, the frighteners and the gunmen on ti(),th sides. What they do not seem to realise is that an 1;arn-led citizen, no doubt peaceably inclined and hisnectful of the law, simply cannot defend himself and sts ranillY against the warriors of faction who roam the reets of Ulster. The first duty of any state is to protect the lives of its citizens. In times of great peril it may recruit conscripts or volunteers into the security forces to meet a threat: that was done in Ulster with the creation of the Ulster Defence Regiment. But it is ludicrous (and worse) to imagine, for example, that the lives and homes of the women taking part in the current series of peace marches can be safe until the IRA are made to understand with absolute clarity that the Government's purpose is not to placate them, not to ignore them, not to treat with them, but to destroy them.
Mr Neave made clear on his recent visit to Northern Ireland that this was the Conservative position. Even if the Opposition has yet to evolve a wholly coherent political strategy for Northern Ireland, the message would be much more telling, however, if it were to be enunciated by Mrs Thatcher herself. It should be realised by now that no political solution in Northern Ireland is feasible, no increase in the authority of the Westminster government is conceivable, until security has been restored by according the Army the full backing of the law in the business of rooting out terrorism.
The first duty of the Secretary of State, Mr Merlyn Rees (or his successor), is to attain that end. The Prime Minister's duty, it may be said, is to ensure that the Secretary of State receives unwavering Cabinet support. and all the moral as well as constitutional authority attaching to it, in the pursuit of that end. There is no other course— and it is a course of honour no less than realism.
