Integration nonsense
Sir: John Taylor believes that the claim in the Republic of Ireland's constitution for its jurisdiction over the whole island 're- flects public opinion' in the South (Letters, 29 September). He is in for a surprise if he should ever test this assumption in Dublin — or for that matter in Cork: he should get hold of a transcript of Senator John A. Murphy's recent broadcast in BBC2's Fifth Column programme. There is still a desire in the South for a reunion of hearts, but no longer of political heads.
Adrian Lee's letter on behalf of the Great London Young Conservatives (6 October) is an excellent example of the confusion which exists within his party over `integration'. He seeks to explain away the
LETTERS
Conservative candidate's 'failure to secure a major share of the vote' (a neat way of avoiding the humiliating admission that she secured less than 3 Per cent of it) by blaming the speed with which the by- election campaign had to be organised. Nonsense: the return of the Conservative Party to active electioneering in Ulster meant that she had all the publicity a candidate could hope for. The fact is that Ulster Protestants regard the Conservative Party with deep mistrust. They may want to stay in the United Kingdom, but only if they are permitted to reject any law or agreement (such as Hillsborough) they do not liIce. The idea of submitting to the will of the British par- liamentary majority remains as anathema to them today as it was in 1912. The notion that integration, in any meaningful sense, can be achieved is about as far-fetched as the hope of a politically re-united Ireland.
Brian Inglis 23 Lambolie Road, London NW3
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