Madam, - Frank Boucher-Hayes's letter of April 12th demonstrates yet again that Sir Edward Carson never thought of himself as other than an Irishman. Readers may be interested to read what he is reported to have said at the height of the heated debates in the House of Commons concerning the mobilisation of the UVF in the early part of the 20th century.
Winston Churchill sought to lower the temperature by making a direct appeal to the Ulster leader (Carson): "Why cannot the right honourable and learned gentleman say boldly, 'Give me the amendments in this Home Rule Bill which I ask for, to safeguard the dignity and the interests of Protestant Ulster, and I in return will use all my influence and goodwill to make Ireland an integral unit in a federal system'?"
"Carson's reply was: "If Home Rule is to pass, much as I detest it and little as I will take the responsibility for the passing of it, my earnest hope, and indeed I would say my earnest prayer, would be that the Government of Ireland for the South and West would prove and might prove such a success in the future, notwithstanding all our anticipations, that it might be even for the interests of Ulster itself to move toward that Government and come in under it and form one unit in relation to Ireland."
In that statement Carson showed he was not wedded adamantly to partition.
Nearly a century later, people in Northern Ireland would not take too kindly to Carson's notion of coming in "under" the government of the rest of Ireland. In today's world, "with" or "into partnership with" would seem preferable. National imperialism has had its day.
- Yours, etc,
JOHN ROBB, Consensor, New Ireland Group, Hopefield Avenue, Portrush, Co Antrim.