MOCRAT FOUNDED IN 1939. MONTHLY ORGAN OF THE CONNOLLY ASSOCIATION No. 367 JANUARY 7975 lOp ABAIRT AN MHI Le Seamus 0 Cionnfaola t. Is mise 9edn 6 Cealladh. 2. Is m6r an trua e. 3. Is fada siar mo mhuintir. WILL THERE BE 4. C& Raibh tu le Fada. 5. Nf fheaca me tti le bliain. I 2 6. Ti tu dlanach airis. 1 w 7. Nolladh mhaith agat. I 8. Bliain nuashonnasach. PEACE AT LAST? f BEHIND SCENES MOVES CONTINUE CAMPAIGN OF SUPPORT NEEDED Anti-Irish H E decision of the Provisional I.R.A. to prolong the Christmas ceasefire is to be ALLEGATIONS in the "Irish welcomed as materially enhancing the prospect of peace in Ireland. Times" and "Manchester Guardian" of the torture of The decision followed weeks of behind the scenes negotiations ^ PEAKING in Dublin Mr Paddy in which it is said that representatives of the British Government ^ Devlin said he hoped that the gag prisoner^ held in Birmingham jail on suspicion of having been met the Republican leaders in a secret place. truce would be indefinitely pro- longed. It looked like a process of i' I concerned in the pub explosion Feelers were being put out bers of the Connolly Associa- disengagement. m November, are to be the sub- before the Birmingham bomb tion when they lobbied Parlia- ject of a police enquiry. blast brought about a position ment against internment on The new situation has however This decision arose from the where Mr Mervyn Rees realised December 10th. Declaring that yet to be stabilised. The national- thet he just could not wait for ist people of the six counties are sction of Labour M.P. Mr Robin they wished to see; internment Corbett (Hemel Hempstead). the 'Convention. He must cre- not willing just to call everything ended completely and at once, offhand go back to 1968. Shocking allegations were made ate an atmosphere in which it was at least conceivable that it they were told that a motion to PHE so-called "Protection againBt by a prisoner released from Winson At this period it Is necessary to might succeed. this effect by Mr Sydney Bid- -*- Terrorism" Act, panic measure Green. He said that the Irish- fight a campaign to speed up the rushed frantically through Parlia- men were compelled to run the well has been thrown out a day The meeting of the Protestant release of internees, an amnesty ment, like, so many other anti- gantelope of twenty prison officers. or two before, and there was for prisoners convicted .of offences Irish measures in the past two They were kicked down metal and Churchmen with the "Provi- therefore no prospect of com- arising out of the .troubles, and centuries, is already leading to stone stairs. They were forced sional" I.R.A. at Feakle (a meet- plete release before Christmas. above all the passing of a Bill of gross injustice. into very hot water in a bath with ing which it is alleged, but de- Civil Rights at Westminster, or their clothes on. Then their nied that Conor Cruise O'Brien better still the incorporation of a Take one of the milder clothes were torn off. The water tried to wreck by having them The Association therefore sug- Bill of Rights in whatever new examples. The police swopped on in the bath, used for defusing arrested)-was the tip of a big gested a compromise package the constitution is established for the an Irish home in South-eat* Aban- don. This was in genteel suburbia, vagrants, was bright red with Wood, diplomatic iceberg. prospect of which might lead to a six counties. it was also alleged that they WW* truce, and a slackening of tension in an alea hb^'ibm^'-.-.^ tually no Irish. | ) - ^ compelled to sttaild up in their cells in which internment might be In order, to maintain control of 611 alght one 1 68 PEVERISH diplomatic activity P " * report. ended. The proposal* included the the. six counties English im- The man of the house had been nrHEIR appearance in court con- still continues at and around release of a substantial number of perialism has built into the six in political Sinn rein twenty years firmed that there was a strong Stormont Castle. When the internees before Christmas, the re- counties a finely tuned apparatus ago; His wife was in the Connolly jmma facie ease for the assump- I.R.A. announced their Christ- moving of the army from national- for maintaining the Union. It is Association. tion that they had. been grievously mas truce they asked for a re- ist areas and a "low profile" for this apparatus which we want to The house was searched and maltreated. - They were in a dazed sponse. If they got it they would police in Unionist areas, plus an see dismantled, so that British- nothing incriminating^ was found. condition, and showed bruises. The police went away, and it is not continue the truce. Mr Mervyn official effort to_^ encourage re- imposed obstacles to the reunifica- suggested that they did not If these allegations are substan- Rees, on New Year's Eve, an- straint and conciliation W all'Sides. tion of Ireland can be removed. tiated, and it is hard to think that The Minister did not db all the courteously apologise for the nounced the release of 20 de- *ome of them will not be, the Association wanted, but adopted The fight for an Irish Republic, trouble they caused. It is not tainees, parole for a further 50, British public should take extra the line of action in principle. one and indivisible, still goes on. (Continued on Paga Two) I warning that the ruling class of and a free pardon for 100 con- this country Is leaning towards victed men, it is understood in- Fascism. cluding loyalists. That it should even be possible to allege such things, or that a This last provision was neces- NEW DEMOCRAT GUARANTEE FUND Member of Parliament should have sary in order to avoid an "IRISH DEMOCRAT" sales areas, the decline amounted to a inpHERE has been a good initial to ask about them, is a sign of the' Orange backlash. The loyalist suffered badly in the after- catastrophe. response and we are happy to times. thank the following for their leader Harry Murray, however, math of the Birmingham bomb Some Connolly Association E*. These men are Innocent until special donations: - said publicly that he was in fa- incident. Branches, like Oxford and Birm- they are proved guilty. What if vour of discussions with the ingham rallied in exemplary the authorities have arrested all Whereas in the old established South London Branch £20, "provisionals." Irish areas of north and west Lon- fashion, and found new ways of Stephenson 19p, R. Resetter the wrong men? That will not be getting the paper to. readers. don Y.C.L. £4, J. 'f don, there was only. ,a modest fall- , inown till after their trial. What The Minister's gesture was ~ But it would !ie idle to try to Bond 5»p, H. Segger (Continued on Page Five) close to terms suggested by mem- ing off, in some of the "mixed" conceal that the paper, already £3, Anon 1». W 50* C. Kelly £1, •V experiencing hard times due to in- Crffiy 19p, J. Kane £1, flation like everybody else, has V. Griffin £5, S. Breen o suffered a bad financial blow. gan £1, A. Hlggins £1, D. g 3 _ • Ireland's new bicycling President The Standing Committee of the W. Hardy £2, M. C/> U Connolly Association, realising that H fEARBHALL 0 Dalaigh, Ireland's and I are simple people and we city on unrepublican business, Who, in a scriptural phrase, wrote to the next few months may be ex- new President, It a man wtio is would like to be able to retain ceptionally tough, has opened a new Went London Readers t*e<y to honour Hie office. He is some of the simplicity of life in Scottish friends: 'I beseech you, in London Readers £5.53. t ro the bowels of Christ, think It pos- guarantor fund. Its purpose will tiumane, -liberal-minded, highly the new offioe which we are now be to secure guarantees foi^he - • aj t uitured and modest In personality. sible you may be mistaken'." to All. maintenance of the paper. It will ? w has a passionate -love of the "May I put it in a sentence: if At a time in Ireland when there incorporate the existing Connolly "nsh language and uses It fre- kings may ride bloycles, why then, is wide contempt and distrust of Association Guarantor Fund, and H cently, paselng without effect politicians, when there is suoh dis- 1.1 am John n 1rom a fortiori, presidents may pedal the Association will continue to one language to another, for too. Is there a better way to illusionment with the main politi- draw from the Joint fund the 2. Pity him. ^ 1 V <s highly aeoompilshed in other reduoe oil needs and improve cal parties, the empty promises amount that it has draWn in the 3. My pm»i« are ianKuaKes as well. HI* Wife is a they have gulled the people with national health?" past. f Wiy* Were «"s"nftuishe<l Irish scholar In her and the mediocrity of leaderihjp If as is hoped the difficulty is of rwr> right. H another part of his address he KJ Ol J I quoted Cromwell: "As we look which is so widely prevalent, it brief duration, then the previous Me i8 will be refreshing to have a man a President who Is fond of at history, let us admire courage position will be reverted to.