January 8 1974
Mr Brian Faulkner, who resigned yesterday as leader of the Unionist Party, is to remain Chief Executive of the new Assembly Coalition. In the political flurry that followed his announcement it was acknowledged that without him the Executive would almost certainly founder.
It was to the Executive – and in time the Council of Ireland – that observers were looking as the best chance for a lasting peace.
The members of the Unionist Assembly party were quick yesterday to pledge their full support to Mr Faulkner. Following a five-hour meeting, they said: “We give him full support and regret the circumstances which have forced him to resign the leadership of the present party organisation.”
They welcomed Mr Faulkner’s statement that “it is our determination to ensure that all parties to the Sunningdale agreement fulfil their obligations. If this does not happen, the agreement will no longer be operable and the Council of Ireland will not be formed”.
They would ensure that the real fears of all unionists were forcefully presented to the Dublin and Westminster governments and continue to stress that there could be no Council of Ireland until the Dublin government proved, beyond all doubt, that it was taking decisive action to crush terrorism and bring fugitive criminals to justice.
The Unionist Party in the Assembly were “urgently examining” means whereby party structure could accurately reflect the view of the unionist electorate in the country.
Mr Faulkner’s decision to quit as Unionist Party leader was thought inevitable following the 80 votes defeat at the Unionist Council last Friday over his power-sharing policies.
His opponents last night were still seeking a new leader and Mr John Taylor and Mr Harry West, the men who proposed the anti-Sunningdale motion on Friday, were regarded as favourites.
Less than a month after the Sunningdale Agreement was signed, its future was in severe jeopardy after the Ulster Unionist Party rejected the agreement, forcing the resignation of its leader, Brian Faulkner, who remained as Chief Executive of the power-sharing executive.
What Has RUC Done To Stop Protestant Extremists?
Sir – When the RUC Chief Constable, Mr JB Flanagan, and Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Malone, met last week, the whole emphasis was on following up men of violence south of the border.
We feel it is important to remind Mr Malone and the people of the south that there is another border inside the Six Counties from which a second campaign of violence is waged.
This protects Protestant extremists. They walk freely around in their sanctuaries after the murder of Catholic householders, the bombing of Catholic churches, schools, halls, parochial houses, public houses.
What have the RUC done to apprehend the perpetrators of such deeds in east Belfast and in the Armagh-Portadown-Dungannon triangle?