DIARY OF THE YEAR
Thursday, October 21: 13 were killed and over 100 injured by a gas explosign in a Glasgow shopping arcade. Senator Kennedy's "unfortunate outburst" on Ulster was condemned by Stormont and Westminster, and the latter began debating our entry into the EEC. Unemployment figures rose only marginally.
Friday, October 22: Army experts defused the second bomb in 48 hours to be planted in Belfast's Europa Hotel. In the Commons, Sir Keith Joseph reaffirmed that the NHS and social security system would be unaffected by EEC entry but Enoch Powell said the Government would " destroy itself." Isle of Wight aircraft firm, Britten-Norman, called in a receiver following the withdrawal of loans. Saturday, October 23: Tension mounted after troops had shot dead two sisters in a car in Belfast and three men attempting a bank raid in Newry. On the eve of Mrs Gandhi's tour of the West, India called up 600,000 army reservists, a devastating typhoon hit South Vietnam and in a freak heatwave British television viewers picked up Programmes from East Germany. Sunday, October 24: Rioting in Belfast and Newry followed the weekend killing of five civilians, while in Dublin, IRA chiefs Joe Cahill and Sean MacStiofain, threatened retaliatory action against the army. A plot to assassinate Mr Kosygin was uncovered by police in Toronto, Swiss racing driver, Jo Siffert, died when his car crashed at Brands Hatch, and a large anti-market rally met in Trafalgar Square. Monday, October 25: Troops moved into Long Kesh camp to free four prison officers held hostage by rioting internees and in Southampton two crewmen were charged over the Q2 arms find. In the EEC debate Messrs Foot and Jay denounced entry on any terms while Edward Short's decision to abstain proved a further blow for the promarketeers. Russia and India were reported to have concluded a secret arms deal, Jimmy Reid was elected first Communist rector of Glasgow University. Picasso was 90. Tuesday, October 26: Roy Jenkins rejected a plea from 101 Labour anti-marketeers to reconsider his position on the EEC while Lord George-Brown jovially breathed some life into the Lords debate. Two gunmen were wounded in a prolonged border battle near Strabane and a series of attacks were inflicted on the RUC and their families during the night. America suffered a shock defeat with Taiwan's expulsion from the UN, Mr Kosygin received a tumultuous welcome in Cuba and Mr Brezhnev survived a marathon session with M. Pompidou in Paris. Wednesday, October 27: The State Department lamented the exclusion of Taiwan from the UN, 101 Labour MPs lamented the refusal of Mr Jenkins to change his mind on the EEC and Mr Douglas Houghton lamented the split in the Labour Party. In Ulster the IRA attacked, at Westminster the House of Commons brawled, in Denmark the government decided to hold an EEC referendum.
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