July 5 1974
The British Government has offered Northern Ireland its last chance to build a system of power-sharing with recognition of the north’s “special relationship” with the Republic of Ireland. Failure to make the new plan work could mean the end of the link with Britain.
This was the message spelled out yesterday by a White Paper in which the government hands over to the Northern Ireland people the job of sorting out their own political future. The new shape of government here will be decided by representatives elected to a Constitutional Convention.
Along with the promise of fresh Stormont elections to provide the Convention a forum for the construction of new political machinery, the government warns that the progress in this task will affect financial aid to Northern Ireland.
Reaction to the White Paper has been generally favourable. But there was continued loyalist rejection of the Irish dimension and overall disappointment that no new move was made on internment. In Dublin, where leading politicians felt initially hurt that Britain did not take them into their confidence until Wednesday night, there was relief that the White Paper showed no dramatic change in Westminster policy.
The decision not to set a date for a Stormont election has also been a source of relief. This will not now take place until after the next Westminster election which is expected in the late autumn. The government believes that time must be allowed for the development of new political groupings and, perhaps, the emergence of new leaders, and has ruled out the possibility of a local election in the near future.
The period before the Convention election is the first part of the government’s four-stage plan. They want politicians to use this time for inter-party talks before elections – the second step in the plan.
Seventy-eight members will be elected by proportional representation to the Constitutional Convention which will meet at Stormont. The poll will be based on the 12 Westminster constituencies.
In the third stage, the Convention will decide what sort of government would command the most widespread acceptance. No possible solution is ruled out, but Britain makes it clear that the ingredients in the final recipe must include power-sharing, and recognition of the special relationship between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Finally, the Convention will report to Westminster.
