Loyal rebels
sir: Your article of September 29 on No Integration for Ulster' has only now been drawn to my attention. The
consequences deserve to be put to your readers. The proposition was advanced that integration, meaning direct rule by Westminster, would "import an Irish quarrel" into Great Britain, but that indirect rule through subordinate institutions supervised by Westminster would not. The pretence is that this Irish quarrel is not a British one. The reality is that British sovereignty in Ulster is disputed by a minority there, sustained by the Republic's claim to that sovereignty.As long as British sovereignty is claimed, so long are the British involved in an Irish quarrel.
Ulster is described as a body "unnaturally transplanted. This is the contention of Irish Nationalism. The uprooting of the transplant ends the United Kingdom, which appears to be the unstated ambition of the writer. Ulster loyalists, as becomes all in allegiance to the Crown, resist such ambitions whether promoted by HMG or open rebels. Naturally, loyalists forfeit (as the article says) the goodwill of their opponents in Great Britain or elsewhere.
The article admits that temporary direct rule only made sense "as a step on the way" to an Irish solution. That is why and what loyalists resist. For them, no sharing of the Crown's sovereignty as a step on the way to its ultimate surrender.
The impasse is thus between those who oppose diminishment of British sovereignty and those who promote it. The loyalist aim is unambiguous. Westminster's is not. People in Great Britain are conditioned to confuse 1 loyalty to the Queen with loyalty to al I government, whose policy is the ultimate disloyalty — the surrender of I her Ulster land and people to historic enemies. For Ulster loyalists loyalty to such a government is disloyalty to the Queen. For them rebellion to such a government is loyalty to the Queen. The article supports the British I Government's kiss of death to Ulster loyalists. The only honest resolution of the impasse is for Westminster to choose either to uphold or surrender British sovereignty in Ulster. The escalation of trouble has surely been caused by Westminster statesmen acting as Republican Monarchists running I 'round in square circles encouraging • everybody, especially rebels. Do you wonder that loyalists now distrust Westminster as false friends better relieved of power to betray I them? Your article confirms them in their view. Dominion status or any other that relieves Westminster of the white man's burden they would carry themselves is what they want. If Westminster wants a friendly Ulster she can have it. If she pursues her present oath she cannot.
E. A. Baird
(Assembly Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone) 9 Rosepark East, Belfast
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