Wilson attempts to calm Ulster fears

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33514, 20 April 1974, Page 15

Wilson attempts to calm Ulster fears

f.V.Z, Press Association—copyright > BELFAST, April 19. I he death toll in Northern Ireland's fix e x ears of bloodshed reached 999 todax as the British Prime Minister (Mr Wilson) declared on a xisit to Belfast that the British Government is "utterly determined that violence xxill not succeed."

Mr Wilson, in Belfast on his first visit since 1971, said that extremists will not be allowed to ‘‘bomb their way to the conference table, nor must they be allowed to bomb Northern Ireland into the abyss."

The latest victim of the sectarian warfare in Ulster was an agricultural worker killed by an explosion. The British Army said that he was apparently blown off a tractor by the blast.

An Army spokesman said that the bomb was probably [intended for security forces. [Earlier in the day, another ;bomb blasted a nearby parish hall, causing no casualties.

Mr Wilson’s statement was obviously aimed at calming the fears of the ! majority Protestants in the province that the Irish ‘Republican Army will succeed in its aim of forcing [out the British and uniting (the North with the Catholicdominated Irish Republic.

The Protestants had urged Mr Wilson to come to Belfast amid a spring I.R.A. bombing offensive that 'threatened to destroy Northfern Ireland's commercial life iearlier this month. The centres of several towns were devastated bv I.R.A. bombs.

Brian Faulkner, the leader of the provincial executive which includes both moderate Protestants and Roman Catholics, emphasised security problems in his talks with Mr Wilson, saying, “Security is the British Government’s responsibility.” Mr Wilson’s trip coincided with a visit by Mr Enoch Powell, a Right-wing politician who refused to run for Parliament for the Conservative Party at the last British General Election. Mr Powell told a cheering

Belfast crowd of loyalists last night that he might be prepared to accept a Northern Ireland constituency if a seat became available at Westminster. He also called for a big increase in Northern Ireland's representation in the British Parliament as a way

of easing violence in the province. Addressing a rally of hardline Protestant unionists. Mr Powell said Northern Ireland should have 20 Parliamentary seats in the 635-seat British House of Commons, or at least 18, instead of the present 12.