The North: the Shadows & the Substance

moves were made that seemed (o-anticipate a reunification of the brish people. Mr Harold Wiison produced his 15 points. Dr. lan Paisley announced himself prepared to recognise the possibility of a 32 County Republic (andl, by omission, to recognise the powbility of hig re maining in it.) Finally, the government af the Republic broke its silence and moved to report its British opposiie number io the Court of Hurmen Rights for tis “Ubireatmenc™ (not, of couse, “brutality ) of intermees, Amd, over the week-cod, the [RA (Kevin $1.) showed that it was olive and well, and bombing in Belfasd What does this show? Is Irish unity within imperiglsm now any more possible alter two years __ ofa campaign designed subjectively to achieve this! Is thére ony chance of 9 “federal solucion” to the Irish question being imposed? [f these questions ore to be answered in the aiticmmetive, i necessary once again for Murxista to reoonsider their perspectives for the future of the nalional siriugele.

Firat of all, it must he said that the federal solu Hon is the ideal of British imperiolism. The trouble i that dis zeal outrums its discretion, British loops are in Nerthern Ireland because the Lnpenal Gerverment cannot repeal the Act of 1920 & 1949 potas a prelude te it doing so.

‘This is shown vigibly in the Wilkon proposals: the 13 points: one more than the celebrated World War One Inventory of the man’s American namesake. and just as surely doorned to failure, Their overriding significance can be summuriced in tao facts. They express the good intentions of British imperialiom: What ii would dike bo de, (Thus, there ig-one reason for Heath's relatively benevoient welcome for them). Seeonilly, they are made by aman who Bb outel office and likely to beso forat least 3 more years. Their obvics weaknegs is shown in their first (& keystone} cemand: for the cessation of violence (no prizes For puesing whoee violence), Even Brendan Corish can't take that! Rebease ol internees will wait upon this. “OF course, the British tracps wall remain for 15 years until reunification is an accumplished fact, Bit even pranting a mulitary victory for the Brilish Adm}, the where plan depends on ano hypathesis, It aasumes the strengihening of the eco nomy of the British [sles to an extent that the lrigh social welfare services can be raised to equal those of the United Kingdom. This seems an Utopian baa lop any acheme. Mlorcover, Mr. Wilson's own record i “economic wizard” dors not lead toa belielin his talents ag sooth-sayer. [it fs tinlikely that the extended quarter-century econdamic ben will be restored, Furthermore, [reland’s entry tothe EE AC. will nean thai Wil son's intended Britich subsidies will have bo be greater than they would under present circus tances. On the other hand, Ireland may not join the EEC, In sucha cose the probable subsidies may still have co be increased, hot, alan, they will be a weakening of the econemuc unily which isa necessary foundation for Wileon’s intended political unity.

Thus, the 13 points are not worth the breath that all parties in Nerthern Ireland have wasted denouncing Chem, They even ure less worth the breath ded in the criticul support expressed by the partics in the Republic, Morsinieresting is the attitude expresetd by Dir, Paisley, This has impressed, at Jegst, theGiardines Place Sinn Poin. In ane of its increasingly frequer attempts to persuade people thac it has never beer a Republican orpanisation this body calls for the ROTA, tocorganise the maintenance of law and order. Drs Paisley is against the BLE C,; it remarks; this expresses the views of thé Protestant workers and ives ua a basta for inter-denuminu(iona] unity.

Once again, it is necessary le point out the facts of the situatlon. Tn the first place, mere oppeosition ta the B.BIC. is act a balla glean health for Socialists. The view thar it isso bas led the Communuct Party of Great Brituin to marchon demon: trations with thie Nathonal Froat. The basis for the Denvocratie Unionist opposition te enim is mare like that of the latter body than (hal of the former, Secondly, the whole of the Doctor's present nicicalism is. bit 100 vague and too mew Lo be simoere, He is veoles anninst landlords. but his peslitical ioyulty to the Proceatance workers did nol extend to opposing the Industrial Relaticers Actigainat which they struck. [tis all ten co celvaole that he is por paring his inwsee so thal his atizun: oF power, when tt comes, does nat disturh too many in Great Britaia. It is worth emembenne that Paisleyisin has no alteralive to the Common Market, Tr ls well worth remembering too, that Hitler did ior take power by a coup but aa heing the one ian Ukely toccem:and y demoarate majorlty in the Reichstig, The statemanlike quality of the Boctor’s remarks On UMC are in keeping with this diagnosis. Wow he hints at reunification on a honesecturian basis, But it is just at this time that the brish beourpecisie, cricicaily frightened by internal and exlernal origes, ore teirenting behind the Bishops” skirts. Ag for Poides"s denunéistion of the 1997 Constitution, i is doubtful wheeher he wtuld acoopt that of Sacratat Bireann, Politics! partition of Ireland dates to P20 pot 14s.

But one ching must be said for Paisley, he does not claim cational selicdeterdoation far lis Meck Of the other two events of the week, chore is little oo be said. The appeal tothe Court of Hue man Rights is a probably meaningless acsture desigmed bo avedd being upstaged in meaningless gestures by Pine Gael. The compaign of the week-end may be Kein Steece’s “last stand,” 2s Faulkner claims, but, on the paid fon of Trish Republicanism, this sseme-unlikely, ive the workers politically north a . Whe ther this ig dome, initially, to back the strugglers Tratinnal untication or for a mare specifically Wilt= kirgeclate aio is immatetial, Whil is important is that the national revolution mst prow over ile the Socialist Revolution, "The Persiment Revel tien remains on the agenda, MeArt,

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