The latest Government White Paper on Ireland doesn't even pretend to offer a solution in the aftermath of the loyalist general strike.
However, at least one thing is clear. The Labour Government has made big concessions to the loyalists. In this White Paper the proposals differ from those of Sunningdale, where, in the interests of the longer term imperialist strategy, the British Government attempted to run rough shod over the protestants.
To do this successfully, though, required the isolation and military defeat of the Provisional TRA and the crushing of the catholic minorityThe British Army failed to achieve this, which precipitated the mass backing for the loyalist general strike. Acknowledging their power, the White Paper puts the working out of future arrangements in the hands of the loyalists.
The loyalist United Ulster Unionist Council of Craig and Paisley is guaranteed a majority in the proposed "Constitutional Convention", which is meant to make the proposals for future arrangements. The only conceivable outcome of such a convention is proposals for the establishment of a new Stormont-like protestant ascendancy. Any new power sharing' as demanded by the White Paper will be on the basis of this new ascendancy.
But this would require the acquiescence of the catholic minority in their subordinate place. The attempt to enforce this will mean ever greater repression of the catholics and an ever more vigorous effort to suash the Provos, Not only will this he done through the army but also through a greater open participation in repression by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Ulster Defence Regiment.
These are extremely dangerous days for the catholic minority. One of their major demands, the downfall of Sunningdale, has indeed been brought about, but by the forces of reaction and not by the Republicans The credibility too of the Social Democratie Labour Party has suffered a major body blow. But the pressure from the Southern Government for the SDLP to accept the new situation and participate on loyalist terms in the Constitutional council holds out dangers for the catholics, especially with the lack of any other alternative from the Republicans. In the South possible demoralisation of the Republican forces after the loyalist victory has opened the way for Cosgrave (the Irish Prime Minister) to sweep under the carpet the Irish dimension' which in any event is relegated to a foot-note in the White Paper, The growing isolation of the Catholic minority in the North puts great responsibility not only on the Republican forces in the South of Ireland but also on the labour movement in Britain. How can we aid the Republicans in their struggle against the loyalist forces and the British army?
We have to expose the lies of the British press, certainly, and warn about the danger to the oppressed minority. But the key task is to increase the pressure for troop withdrawal to the point at which the British Government is farced to pull them out before there is a real threat of the IRA being defeated and the Catholic minority crushed: before the conditions are laid for an "Ulsterisation' of the war and the loyalists are armed to the teeth to keep the "peace' What links is loyalist leader William Craig Ileft) - seen here in Hyde Park in May 1972 during the first attempt to orgenise a pro loyalist demonstration in London - now devaloping with fascists like Marsin Webster of the National Front trighti?