Ulster’s agony

Press, 13 August 1976, Page 12

Ulster’s agony

Sir. — The question, how long a people have to reside in a territory to be considered as belonging to that country, could have been answered by P. Hickman himself with a little thought about the situation of the Protestants in the six counties of Ulster. No one can seriously dispute that the six counties now occupied by the British Army are an integral part of Irish territory, or justify British claims to perpetuating that occupation. It is the Protestants themselves who declare themselves to be aliens in the land of their birth. They are entitled to retain their English citizenship, their loyalty to the English crown and its religion: they are not entitled to declare that part of Ireland where they reside, to be English territory. — Yours, etc..

M. CREEL. August 11, 1976.

Sir.—Your editorials always support British policy in Ireland, It is time, therefore, in the interests of impartial-

ity, for you to present editorially the other side of the coin. It is time to tell your readers that because their constitution incorporates all 32 counties, successive Irish governments have and continue to demand from Britain, the return of their national territory — the six counties of Ulster. Tel) them that British politicians in private, and British writers and correspondents publicly, have declared the logic of reunification. Tell them that history and the current holocaust proves that British dominion over any part of their island is anathema to Irishmen. It is imperialistic and negative to assert that the actions of Irish patriot a-twists only serve to strengthen British determination. Determination for what? More dead Irish and British sons, fathers and brothers? Inevitably, Britain must withdraw. Let her do it now.—Yours, etc., D. J. LEAHY. August 11. 1976.

[This correspondence is now closed.—Editor]