Sir, - I read with interest the reasoning of your correspondent John McGrath (July 30th). There is a lot missing from the seemingly impeccable logic - if only the options he describes were just that simple! - but I feel I must query one remarkable assertion which I have heard very often, but which does not become any more credible on repeated hearing. That is, that Unionist Party opinion here is "so bigoted that it is intent on provoking a bloody conflict".
Now, quite apart from the fact that it is clear from Mr McGrath's letter who will be doing the bloodletting - not the UUP! - I cannot believe that there are still those whose view of the UUP, and by extension of their voters, is that unionists are actually "intent" on being "slaughtered". Why would they want this? I must assure your correspondent that in all my life here I have never met a single Ulster Unionist who wants anything other than a peaceful and long life! Might it not be the case that Mr McGrath's view of unionists as quasi-suicidal anarchists is itself bigoted? It is certainly, to say the least, totally uninformed. - Yours, etc.,
Richard Froggatt, Strangford Avenue, Belfast 9.