The Northern Ireland Problem
As the Army seeks to contain the situation, and politicians try to find a solution to the present unrest in Northern Ireland, it is well to remind ourselves how the Northern Ireland problem arose. At the end of World War I loyalist Ulstermen rejected outright the idea of a Romanist dominated all-Ireland Parliament and chose to remain Protestant and British. Because of this, Protestant Ulstermen have earned the undying hatred of the R.C. Church and the unrelenting opposition of the murderous I.R.A. organisation.
How incongruous in the light of this is the call by Mr Callaghan (Shadow Home Secretary) for the formation of a Council of All-Ireland, and the assertion by Mr Stewart (a former Foreign Secretary) that there could be no solution, except in the context of a united Ireland. Equally inappropriate is Mr Callaghan’s suggestion for a meeting in London between Mr Faulkner, Ulster Prime Minister, and Mr Lynch, Eire Prime Minister, to discuss problems of mutual concern to both North and South. What help in resolving the present situation can Northern Ireland expect to receive from Mr Lynch when his main concern is to see an end to Northern Ireland and a United Ireland established under Rome rule. If our politicians would only realise that it is the civil and religious liberties of the Protestants of Northern Ireland that are at stake they would cease to play into the hands of the enemies of that country.
‘Oz’ Editors Sentenced
The three defendants in the ‘Oz’ obscenity trial, Richard Neville, James Anderson and Felix Dennis were found guilty and sentenced to 15, 12 and 9 months in jail, respectively. Neville, an Australian, was also recommended for deportation. They are to appeal against their sentences and have been released on bail.
It is welcome news to hear of salutary sentences in a case like this, particularly at a time when a flood of filthy literature is finding its way on to the shelves of bookshops, threatening to corrupt and debase the minds of those into whose hands it falls. There will be those who will plead for more licence and regard the sentences as excessive but if any fault is to be found with the law on this question it is that it errs on the side of laxity rather than on the side of strictness and severity. It may be too much to hope that this trial will herald a cleaner and healthier era in British literature, but the day is coming when the Lord will fulfil His promise—“Then will I turn to the people a pure language.”