Ulster
Sir: Might I take the liberty of commenting upon several issues raised in your editorial (IRA hostilities') of July 19.
Firstly, let it he clearly stated that. there is no desire amongst the people of Northern Ireland for an independent status. Indeed it is recognised that such a course of action would, by its very nature, entail an abandonment of those objectives upon which the philosophy of Unionism is founded.
It is certainly true that if the Union were in some hypothetical circumstances to be severed, we would always prefer independence to absorption into an alien culture and society. Independence would then provide a means Whereby the province could preserve \ the fundamental principles and liberties of the British way of life. However, any statement of this self-evident fact does not detract from the reality of our determination to uphold and defend our citizenship. The Union will never be severed from this side of the Celtic Sea.
Citizenship of the United Kingdom carries with it a right to equality of political status. The electorate of Northern Ireland have a right to expect a system of devolution which they find acceptable, or alternatively full representation at Westminster and parity of treatment with other regions of the country. It is wholly fallacious to suggest that Ulstermen are under any moral obligation to accept a system of government which would be tolerated in no other part of the United Kingdom, and which in fact gives position of undue political influence and advantage to those whose openly professed loyalty lies outside the borders of this country.
Jeremy Burchill Northern Ireland Convention, Parliament'Buildings. Stormont, Belfast
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