,Letters to the Editor Irish unity
Prom Lord Monson
Sir: Mrs Hannah Quinn is being more than a little disingenuous in telling your readers (November 30) that the 1920 Government of Ireland Act envisaged not only a Council of Ireland but an All-Ireland Parliament with Irish Union," tout court. What the Government of the day equally envisaged was that such developments could and Should only take place if both cultural groups were prepared to meet each Other half way, with the unionists dropping their opposition to Home Rule and their insistence on continued representation at Westminster in return for the anti-unionists relinquishing their aim of a Gaelic-orientated and semiclerical Republic. Had both sides been Prepared to act accordingly, the ultimate outcome mignt well nave been a secular and pluralist Dominion, closely Shied with Britain and under the British Crown.
There were few moves towards the
ecessary compromises by either side during the 1920's; and Fianna Fail's decisive victory in 1932, followed by the 1937 Constitution with its clerical, nationalist and irredentist emphasis, Sod the subsequent declaration of a Republic and departure from the Commonwealth, finally put paid to any Such hopes. Given that the Republicans have achieved in toto the political structure and form of society they had always sought and extended it. over five-sixths Of the island's territory, any fair-minded observer will surely agree that the unionists of all shades, who form 25 per cent of the island's population, ought to !).e allowed to maintain their own way Of "ire, and to adhere in perpetuity to their existing
one-sixth.loyalties, in the remaining
If this is accepted, then there is no 41°re logic in inviting United Ireland asPirants (whatever their religion) into i'lUlster Executive than there would be 111,1 asking advocates of a United Iberian eninsula to help run Gibraltar, or in Welcoming even peace-loving members cia CftePLEO (if such exist) into the Israeli
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