DIARY OF THE YEAR
Thursday, September 23: At the end of the Ni debate, Labour left-wingers forced a division against their leadership's advice, while in Ulster businessmen feared the troubles would jeopardize industrial expansion. Unemployment figures rose by 25,000 making the worst total since the war and Archibald Kelly withdrew his bid for the Clydebank Yard. Labour retained Widnes with an 11.4 swing in their favour.
Friday, September 24: The Foreign Office expelled 105 Russians after espionage suspicions were confirmed by a defected KGB Officer, while at the SALT talks, America and Russia agreed on measures to reduce the risk of nuclear war. Thieves stole a priceless Vermeer from an exhibition in Brussels.
Saturday, September 25: Reaction to the British spy purge ranged from. awed admiration in the West to indignant denials from Tass, and Soviet leader, Breschnev paid surprise visits to Hungary and Bulgaria after an amicable four days with President Tito. Sunday, September 26: In Moscow the British Ambassador was warned of severe reprisals unless the expulsion orders were revoked. The NI Community Relations Minister, David Bleakley, resigned over internment and oneparty rule. A major security review was launched after an E118,000 premium bond fraud came to light.
Monday, September 27: In New York Sir Alec Douglas-Home told Mr Gromyko more expulsions would follow unreasonable Soviet retaliation. As Mr Heath's talks with the Irish PMs got under way at Chequers, a soldier was shot in the head at a Londonderry observation post. President: Nixon flew to Alaska to greet Japanese Emperor, Hirohito. Tuesday, September 28: As the tripartite talks ended a joint communique was issued deouncing interment and violence. At the IMF in Washington, Anthony Barber proposed that 'paper gold' should replace the dollar as an International Reserve currency, in Athens Lady Fleming was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for conspiring to free a would-be ossassinator of the Greek Premier and the 79-year-old Cardinal Primate of Hungary flew to Rome after 15 years self-imposed exile Wednesday, September 29. In a major speech to the United Nations Sir Alec Douglas-Home denounced the world-wide cult of 'violent confrontation '. Messrs Faulkner and Lynch discussed the tripartite talks with their respective cabinets and the latter decided to recall the Dail a week early.
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