MR WILSON’S IRISH PLAN CHEERED

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 1

MR WILSON’S IRISH PLAN CHEERED

tN.Z.P. A.-Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON, November 26.

The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons (Mr Harold Wilson) today received widespread support from political commentators when he announced plans to end the violence in Northern Ireland and to unite the province with the Irish Republic.

Observers said the House of Commons was stunned into silence last night when Mr Wilson announced his plans.

After giving the most ambitious peace formula for Ireland that the House of Commons had heard for years, Mr Wilson sat down to cheers from both ruling Conservative and Opposition Labour Party members. The Prime Minister (Mr Heath) and the Home Secretary (Mr Reginald Maudling) nodded their approval. Mr Wilson, who last week spent three days in Ireland assessing the situation, said that there was no quick solution.

the fight against Irish Republican Army gunmen in Northern Ireland must continue, and British troops should remain there to keep the peace, said Mr Wilson.

Talks between leading politicians of all parties in the British, Northern Ireland and Irish Republic paliaments, should be held immediately. If the three nations could reach agreement, he said, a new constitution embracing the whole of Ireland could come into effect within 15 years. A newly established Irish

Republic would then seek membership of the Common* wealth.

Mr Wilson suggested that British troops should remain in Ireland for up to 10 years after the signing of a new constitution. Lord Balneil, the Minister of State for Defence, said the Government would consider Mr Wilson’s plan.