IRELAND
SIR,—It surely is odd reasoning on your part that because a band of irregulars, condemned by both thp Roman _Catholic Church in Ireland and by the Government of the Irish Republic, carry out forays across the Border into Northern Ireland, killing and wounding police officers and destroying prcrperty. much of it communal like electricity supplies, tele- phones, Post Office vans, wireless, etc., the Northern Ireland Government should think in terms of some accommodation with the Republic in order to 'end this Border strife.' Surely the proper way to meet this challenge of illegality and terrorism is to wipe 'out the forces that carry them on? The Northern Ireland Government have had marked success in their efforts to combat the terrorists, but the quickest way to stop it is to wipe out -the organisation. That. alas, is beyond the power of the Northern Ireland Government because they are located in the Republic of Ireland. It is there that the drilling and training is openly done, and it is from there the bands operate against the people and the democratically elected Government of Northern Ireland. The whole cam- paign is organised in Eire and the arms and ammuni- tion which these raiders use are, for the most part. procured within the Republic of Ireland, as is evident from the recent raid in Dundalk on-a military estab-
lishment when a quantity of arms and ammunition Was stolen.
We in Northern Ireland, who have now fought this mer.ace for over three years not without some measure of success, are firmly convinced that it could be stopped altogether in the morning if the Government of the Republic were as resolute in the matter as our own Government. They were re- peatedly warned by those in Northern Ireland who
had experience of these matters of the dire conse- quences that might follow any release of the Cur- ragh internees, but it would seem that the Republic's internal politics counted more than peace on the Border and the internees were released. It is signifi- cant that since then several of these internees have been closely allied with terrorist movements against Northern Ireland, and a few of them have been apprehended in the North and are now safely in custody until the emergency passes.
To fight with one hand tied behind your back is a weak way of coming to grips with a menacing prob- lem. That is how it seems to us here in Northern Ireland that the Government of the Republic are tackling the Border strife. We are under no illusions on the matter. Until the Government in Dublin show by actions, not words, that they are in deadly earnest about stopping this illegal warfare, then it will con- tinue. So far Dublin has shown little inclination in that direction.—Yours faithfully,
w. DOUGLAS w. DOUGLAS
Secretary, Ulster Unionist Council Unionist Headquarters, 3 Glengall Street, Belfast [The Northern Ireland Government ought to come to some accommodation with the Republic not be-
cause of the recent border strife, but because of the reasons for the strife. The Border with the Republic was unfairly drawn: and as long as the Northern Ireland Government continues to hold down within its territory so large a minority of people who would prefer to be citizens of the Republic, so long must it expect terrorism and violence—unless some accom- modation is reached.—Editor, Spectator.]
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