[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Snt,-I should like, if
I may, to qualify some of the statements made by Mr. Crook on the subject of Ireland in your issue of June 18th, from the viewpoint of an Ulster Unionist.
First, there is a constituted opposition in the Northern Parliament, consisting of some fifteen Nationalists and a rag-tag and bobtail of Labour Members. One has only to listen to debates to be reassured on that point.
It is, however, an unfortunate fact that the Nationalist Party seem, for the most part, unable either to forget old grievances, or to make any constructive suggestions. Conse- quently voting runs on Party lines and the minority is defeated.
As to the stirrings of unrest under our despotic rule, I fear that Mr. Crook has somewhat exaggerated. There is, of course, discontent at certain measures, such as the Transport Act, which are ahead of their time, but party feeling is still very strong, and it is only in constituencies where the Nationalist vote is in a very small minority that these points can be dis- puted at the polls.
Since the Protestant loyalists are in a very small minority in the Irish Free State, I see no reason why Mr. De Valera should not be tolerant. As a factor for unrest they are negli- gible, and I fear I cannot accept any other hypothesis.
Dismissing the example quoted by Mr. Crook—namely, the Provostship of Trinity College—as a rather pointless case, we turn to the change in nomenclature in the new Constitu- tion. Frankly, I cannot see why Mr. Crook assumes that this change will placate the Irish Catholic. I am open to convic- • tion on this point, but I very much doubt whether the Irishman will ever be happy.—Yours, &c., B. J. D. BROOKE. Hawkins, Winchester, Hants.
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