The reality of the Anglo-Irish Accord, and its role in reinforcing the partition of Ireland, becomes clearer with each day that goes on. A key feature of the Accord was the involvement of the NATO powers drafted by the Institute for European Defence and Strategic Studies.
of Labour and Ireland, looks at the crucial international dimension to the London-Dublin deal - and at offical British and Irish reaction to it. STRIPPED if its rhetoric of peace and reconcilation, the Anglo Irish Ac signed HillsCOLU borough Castle on November recognises in a formal and binding agree. ment, the subordination of the Irish government to the interests of the British establishment. the negotiating table by 16 vear unbroken liationalist opposition, Thatcher has enlisted government to help mainof 1aln Loe parunion Ireland upon which both their interests depend.
- in The following article, taken from the latest issue murdered in front of the world's press or the PTA drags in the likes of EEC commissioner Michael O Kennedy at Birmingham Airport, , he is forcvould be better if the ac vocates of a slow process of reform in the North WCIC sullic couragement He fears social upheaval will spread to the South.
As if it were not clear Margaret Thatcher spells that lne agreement: 'makes abundantly clear there whatsoever Unionists' hearttelt desire to remair the United Kingdom.' It provides in a formally binding interna tional Accord: 'a recogni tion by the Irish government that the status of vortner reland will re main unchanged as long a that is the jority Northern Irelandeople the of ... (I n1s Is an exonel recognion of the legitimacy of the Unionist position." practical and strictly defined way the concern which the Irish government has HILA mallers relating to Northern Ireland' governmen thinks it can, by timely adthe DRUSI government make conceswill reverse the rise of Sinn Fein and . DOOS the full stitutionalists of the SDLP like them, consider Isa unily to de part old 'process in the long term, which takes second place to restoring stability. By inis means. they hope the threat the Dublin government of further growth of socialist repubcanism might be averted ine ophon or an in tergovernmental conTerence a vehicle for such collaboration was one recommended by in Tory strategists of the In turopean Defence Strategic Studies' Dublin The Times explained British thinking by saying the republican movement 'cannot be seen off, under constraints imposed by liberal without redressing the civil balance in tavour of the Catholic minority The novel element in the new agreement is the recruitFor admission, of Dublin second guarantor.
Whilst Dublin highlights the novelty value of its new position fluence, Thatcher underlines its lack operation, discrimination, possible Bill of Rights, Thatcher underlines that whilst the British government prepared in good faith' to listen to Irish proposals it is under no commitment to act upon them She Boweler more optimistic tighter security what it claims to do or carry out what mises 'The Ulster unionists will never yield an inch to the Republic as long • as they know that in the last asso Westminster British army Dalid ment are behind them 'This is an agreement for politicians, not people. It may help Garret Fitz Gerald who is a long street the opinion polls. help Margaret Thatcher, who is threatened DV OOLA Labour and the Alliance. It gives new life to the pernicious Dr Paisley and the Clockwork Orangemen who support him and thus makes the religious divide even wer Thatcher 'Mrs Thatcher has nearly all of Westminster's politicians her side largely because all parties have failed over Ireland in the asl. But failed because they refuse to recognise the heart of the problem, which is the British presence in Ireland We will not take the first step to peace until that is removed.' Partition is the pro lem. British presenc is are solved there can be no and only justice will bring peace • This article is reproduced from the latest issue of Labour and Ireland, out 3XX NOI
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both the United Kingdom and Western Europe seeking a closer political relation between the Lon- don and Dublin governments. This was set out in an important document Britain's Undefended Frontier