The Press MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1971. Another moderate steps down in Ulster

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 14

The Press MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1971. Another moderate steps down in Ulster

Another moderate politician, and one who worked with considerable success to bring reforms to Northern Ireland, has had to step down in Belfast Major Chichester-Clark was Prime Minister of Northern Ireland for nearly two years; and it is to his great credit that—until 11 days ago—he resisted all pressures by extreme Protestants in his party to take a tougher line against the Roman Catholics in the province. The murder of three British soldiers has made these pressures irresistible, supported, as they now are, by the demands of more moderate Unionist Party members for stronger measures against the Irish Republican Army and Roman Catholics engaged in violence. Having failed to obtain British support for stronger military action, the Prime Minister has resigned. The man who will probably take his place, Mr Faulkner, is not likely to satisfy the extremists, either; nor is he likely to alter the attitude of Westminster. The reported satisfaction among many Protestants with the news of the Prime Minister’s resignation is therefore likely to be short-lived. None of the major currents of opinion in Northern Ireland—the demands for self-rule or for union with the Republic, the demands for social, political, and economic reforms—can, of course, be ignored; but the central question in the affairs of Northern Ireland today is how to secure law and order, without which none of the reforms necessary to ensure workable democracy can be effected. The British Government is averse to severe punitive action, which might provoke massive uprisings in Roman Catholic areas. It is equally opposed to pulling out its troops; such a withdrawal would almost certainly lead to the rearming of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and to pitched battles between the police and Roman Catholics. Direct rule from Westminster, which seems to be brought a step nearer by Major Chichester-Clark’s resignation, would certainly incite even more activity by the I.RJL

The complete withdrawal of British influence from Northern Ireland would please many citizens in Ulster. Some might argue that unqualified responsibility for their own destiny would eventually compel that measure of tolerance and mutual respect that is indispensable to the working of democracy. As things stand, a majority of the population do not favour British withdrawal; Ulster is not a Cyprus or an Aden, where it might be argued that the opposing factions should be left to fight it out among themselves. The most telling message of Major Chichester-Clark’s resignation is surely that the Government he has been trying to run in Belfast is powerless to deal with disorder in the province. The real power—and, therefore, the responsibility—lies in Westminster. The Belfast Government, however, has the power to remove' many of the grievances of the Roman Catholic minority. If it fails to do this by maintaining the pace and purpose of its declared programme of reforms it will fail in its most important duty.