ULSTER DISCORD Bombs blast Unionist H.Q.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32566, 27 March 1971, Page 19

ULSTER DISCORD Bombs blast Unionist H.Q.

' (N.Z. Press Associatioiir— Copyright) BELFAST, March 26. Two gelignite bombs badly damaged the headquarters of the Unionist Party in Belfast last night, a few minutes after the new Prime Minister (Mr Brian Faulkner) had announced the membership of his new Cabinet.

The building was unoccupied at the time, and there were no casualties. Policemen and troops tried to seal off the area to which the explosions attracted hundreds of people.

The blasts caused considerable damage to the building, which was to have been the scene today of an important speech by Mr Faulkner to the leaders of his predominently Protestant party. The party’s headquarters, a red-brick Victorian building flying the Union Jack, is a symbol of Protestantism in the province.

An unexploded gelignite bomb was found in a bunch of flowers beneath a parked car outside the headquarters this morning. British Army bomb disposal experts were called and several sticks of gelignite and detonators among the flowers were taken away for forensic examination. Faulkner’s choice

Mr Faulkner’s announcement of his hew Cabinet was made from a Belfast hotel. The main surprises were the appointments of a Rightwing Unionist, Mr Harry West, as Minister of Agriculture, and of a former Labour Opposition member of Parliament, Mr David Bleakley, as Minister of Community Relations.

Both appointments are seen as a bid to bring unity to the Unionist Party at a time when it seems to be splitting at he seams.

Asked by reporters about his appointment of Mr Bleakley, who is 46, Mr Faulkner said: “I have done so because, at this difficult moment for the country, I think the needs of Northern Ireland must override all other considerations.” Under the laws of Northern Ireland, a person who is not a member of either House in the Stormont may hold office as Minister for up to six months. The new Prime Minister decided to retain for himself

the crucial post of Minister of Home Affairs.

Only five members of the Cabinet of Mr Faulkner’s predecessor (Major James Chic-ester-Clatk) retained their posts. The full Cabinet list is: Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Faulkner; Minister in the Senate and Deputy Prime Minister, Senator John Andrews; Minister of Finance, Mr Herbert Kirk; Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr William Fitzsimmons; Minister of Agriculture, Mr West; Minister of Commence, Mr Robin Bailie; Minister of Development, Mr Roy Bradford; Minister of Community Relations, Mr Bleakley; Leader of the House and Minister of State for Development, Mr Nat Minford; Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr John Taylor; Minister of State for Finance and Chief Whip, Captain John Brooke.