NATIONAL ARCHIVES

IRELAND

Reference Code: 2001/6/517

Title: Copy report by E Gallagher, Department of

External Affairs, on the proposal by James

Callaghan MP to establish a branch of the

Labour Party in Northern Ireland.

Creation Date(s): 9 November, 1970

Level of description: Item

Extent and medium: 4 pages

Creator(s): Department of the Taoiseach

Access Conditions: Open

Copyright: National Archives, Ireland. May only be

reproduced with the written permission of the

Director of the National Archives.

, . bav.boen: aw.'. tft .~ t_ ~:eth : 'tl'mQl4~h the _.$,~,Q:t' 'in t~M and t'hr~~h othe.' 4~t,a,e'_ t'b$t ~'~ QillWh. , 1" e:nami'Jttt,ed ., 'til,. ide_ of ,t!:t1atitt9 ,ae ~bm4'l . ".Ste:'h flfthe lblt:ltl\ t.ebfir p.-:tt, 1ft tb. 'tt"h~ ~f!l:.t •• httO'lted tb~ • .att_" totJ\., ~$$ild_ wt~ell hi ._ S.ftt." of' st.ah ,a.t. the " r~ ,Offl<!.1a.lt, "'aRb. rb. Amb4;$-Sa«o. b-'a:pHS61«

'l!fi"l.tn~s ~ . i_. , th'en , the Amba,"s~1' ha, • ...,. ","1"ct. 4't ' OffSc:i411 1 •• 1,. t.hat tk 1d.a would f'l''&.bahl Y ;Mt b. a:cNptal)l. to tb. GWetr-nwnt here. ~' iIl,. 'b . Calla'tJ,ha,n rate. ttl. _:J8t .,~l'ftWlt:h , thfl A:mb;$'$$t,dtn' M '21.G,t oct.. , he _Ia.,. ttrt:J:ftf.' • . , to14th flt 1!)Ubl!» would l'o~kort ttl. ~.lJ)~mlt wltb dllf.~v,.

Tbl'G d()Q not ~ .. t:o hav'f! made .,.11C' llDp,r.std,\rt) Oft fl~ . c.a11a,ban.

fJemu5t" t*~"01"." loot ttr_~$e!t ' mtsl Y ,a,t the $a,tttt.. and , obtain:fl Ith!ft a: VBY trflo.t, p.t.'l 'M of t!ttl:. 'in riff' optn.tOR. , the t.nni.std".

' n'ttuctl '~s: Oft \t4ta't stt.J14 n_ b.$.1d -to _ . C~ll~9'h.ucrftd/_ "'~. 11.en. n. %~ " . e'.-p'M!t;i~f1: t. tb$;t X un.d.s'tand t~

otb.Qc¥ .~!I"" tIIt.at , ,,~. c _l:1aghan 1. 11'k.lyto J,'Ji'Odu;c. d~ftft!t. ~¥,Qpo.a1. -I. 'th. ' r tl:ottal ac_utlft of ~ llrttl~1't 't.,a~. , P~~t.y tm t ht. IUbjec<t 1ft tb«t M~l"ff.Jtu_ .nd if tt ... ~ .1.i>:.t_t. vJew '1.:;:thstt:bt' G~nmeftt '~1d be atrMtly ~pl$ed t ,.n .. $.bcdd " oft$ideir .~"$,~ tn, tfd.8ylew .~~rLtt.l,. w·tthtC :m~h .1~y.

~. Call. ,.a t s, c~" • . 1ft , t~.~:f: ' •• '_as ._ ka.- tt* !$~cn. · 1tal'J\" In the 14' ;,cld't!f ,Utl'act f~~ t __ a$'i$iad~lff. J;'~rt, tJf tb. t ~n'ltl):tNt 1M .f21:at : "ob ... ~

, At th~ $t4~eii J", .. (!ldlaq,'han&.t14, h,e \"$!l8 t :lid to t.l1 tllQ! 'of ttl . f f ot'ta be'!. t13ak1ru, to $c.' up in the Nft'tha r.tt,~l b ... ncb t.f the t .. a~u~ ' ariy.. He n.$b.,!\ ",-*tnt' _rty b~rd! onthl. trhttter in •• _t. mon,tb .• a.tld Is tt.,I:\l! IJl' .get.t1m.f, ap'pt'"_l ,-. \h~ ~.,_a f.a!rly soon. ~th., .. ,t"antement 1\'f! ha$ In m1ttd. tho h~ladq\t.l"tqfl ,of the' J't!tl-al, b •• nch wO!il.d he In Belia.taM agent. would b. appoInted in .II the con.atl tu~nct~.,. He .m$S:M that b. 1. Do,t .at all tlU)tivated BY any ceM1d_il'l~ of fJ;.ttlf\9 OIfe, ,r,.,al:io. $e-ats :In,w.$tfl'ltn$te~ . Hi,. l l. 9)~ul..lft facl. 'be ~._ed •• $8lttlal1v to t,'" bu;tld1ttpU!) ~a geed .• LabOft epfJOlit:l,on in st_mont. . I :1'~411.4 that, ht: had 811'.,a'" _f'l·tten,Qd, this, ~tte. to, l'lt~ When I ~al1.d en bi. to th. t1~ Offl~. in Milftn l;u~t .. fl.y andft.tandi.ngtben a$ th.at Itt. ,,1.- W-fta .'$,lated to' ~ e,$ttn1:ft$te~ $itatG d4 ltte' tol'4 ~he hal ,~ ' ,lf~,9ed hsttndnd 'On' thl. :tn the mea.time. r ~_-'aU,~ tfHt mi$9t.vlnQ$ l ~~$:$,e4 t lft h1$ .f'¥ tb. 'Cuff at o~ uw.lle. meet-in, and said l ' eo~d t\QW 91,.. bim a m'fte &f'flttt.l view aa to what O"J" att,ltu.t1. ~<l he. W. rtQuld" ln

,,_ filet . vi,. $ ch •• .,.loprneftt wtth dl$f~ .. ~.r. It. 'mJ!J'-ld Mana 11 ' ·' . ore po.ttl" J!.~.' . ~itt~ by th, ,4ho~ P;"rl" of th. c<>n.tlft:td.ng, 1'1 (ft.-i_IonGf $,' 'CtNf%_y. He .~14 MlifOUld ~~at1y l'eq.e'tlt If

\l ",. were 'to 'tat. tnt •• t M C flctaI1,_ '. M_. and many of 'Ills ~oll ·~aq;.t:n the' Pa1!tV. 3¥e 'C~ tAe:ed that rJnl vtb_..,ugh a i~,Ul:st I 'fled a'Ild s;y:st._tttio' oPdatlM a~tmtld ~t work.r$ Cilt'ttt _mall f~s tn, 'th. '~th w111 It • 1).~s1bl(4 ,to, bt.)lltt ,.,.p an ·e;Efl!'Ctl •• O'pj).Qllt .. on . ~o the' UnlQlti 'S;t P.r'ty. He W(ial"~h~~a~J. ha"l~ L4bQ~r ctandidat.. 1n .. 11 Gon&tl tu~l'l 'tn th.a~JX't 9"0 .. 3.1 ,elGGt! f3ft In tM f rth ,and ~e' b.,od tIlt; .. , wwld _.' :e~ ~a., t 0 tall ln, wllb Ute pt_ behlla tft mbtd \ f 1e •• ulJ! ,c. lntccdu¢$d a.an .~~l'1m$wt cM'fla$f toa t ,M ~~ ~.rlod • . Wl"tb tt\J:e 'we of --Vartl$ tlon whle1'\ tn.. La:' ,oo't P~y WQuld ~ t • if) the i.Jorth th.,e would b. no 4ang.r' bt $:ttf'UU'1Jtlon b, uttuM'lftbl. el i~~tlh the· pO;iia, .f the >fl)JtthfJI'O brattch wculdee:rtelnly hac~e to b.b 'th~.t unlfle~tlQtl of 1~'(ll_d ,<ceul " c, e nftly lj!~ the lftaj-or1ty o,t' tb. " opul ~tlM in the ~th f~~~dtb(f.$ :¢hang_. I :t~mat:kQd tb3t tb:e dev~tepmen't h. Jlas !n. mtndcould do $&ri~J$ d · ;'a(Je t'O t tl. AtMoppo.sltlfl par>"',' in Sf!-&'Jt:rttoot, and w. ttOtl1d .t~aJL'd th1lliJ$ lltliolrtuna''te.e brui'~

-, ,

tbis «;em t 1 . by caying th :t \h, 0- ,arty S ,nQ futUl' • • I t will G '$,lnt . " ,atG q\l!e, IV . ~,.a!;l$ It hA$ :1'\0 ,.' 111 ' " .3:$1 (kf' cone.tQn. 1 $.atd that,. " tli:. 41 $trMg' react on, at home to $'~ " ql~'t'fl th. c:t1ind;!n,g Qt t · bO\Ur arty 1ft thlft, CQUftt ry _ t ,ttr , l:t! b vot. 'tfb;t $. 1~ sl, d:am49~d. e $~d,d do , tH 1 this w.a- ,! ' ely even t '¢ugb . o-plo' 111t <tux-i.ee , "'0'1' '1 sharoe my \11 *" .

The .I"e,.$,~tW . 1)ln8't ;ould ' f) :r tc me to ncludt! t M f'oll&i11D1 ..

1) , it "1fneral :rtrf opiftitlfl 11, tht;tt t;~ • . ~11B9 a:n takes ~ sup •• flel.al v1_ of the. t at-Ion ttl th - ~tb n_b~ . v'eJty it,ttle \Jnd.rsta.ndla; of the er.>ex' eu~r"Jlt'& of , 1~ :1_ tn. ., 1£ this is th.e cas. &,1$ rl!fa_-atl ' for c;o'atlng t.a~ OpJ"O'$ ,t on in tormont del' v fr , an io& r ' c'1etlt unaol'$t 11 ' ng nth. '01 P$Yc o1.egy within ttl aJ' a and O'f '.' attitudf1 about t, e e.ount1-y as a 01.;

2} trl.to~lc.lly th~, n • .r he- , been a " ltl.Y, olltlcat p-arty. in: theonh. Tb." Jttl.tmi$t Put,,, althotJ cOtl:.Jleccted wltb t. . • COl1sttnatl. ,. a-rtv. 1$ .. 'tit . e.t1." Irish lal't', . and alway. ha$ ~b ,n. It t , e; 1!ltf. . t.ab~u ~a:l'ty b' d t"'l~en a It,Qal lJ\:b~%(l4t 1.ft the t,,!~th~rn $,1tua,tt n , J30. ye<1r$ ~o one' ltl"'g:ht glv49 tb_ $~ e~adeo" t-odci1Y,.. th.. c\ I 'at , , , Qr. t.tu:t. they dId not 40, • .0 and now dlleh'. n.o a.c ' t $'cenee lr~ :$ 1:0, , tt ln.g up thlr .own op.r:t · ~n in t e " o~t ;

j POsSilr" r . al1a,g.n thtnks, t~at ~he olltlcal breakdown " t he Jot't · e .5 same ~oom i O!t upl:talisln on ~.;& situ , tlon n ' the intere$t$ of tb:$ .~ it • ; b,'O'J!" . a~t.y'" ., 11 the, p~obl_, ~ore es'Stmt . ,al1y~ ~ .' ~ltl.h 00.. 0 t.aet# (; Cl)tl%'s:e. it 1$ nQthlngot t h.- kirud aft ~r . 'G;lla~_ ',hou:l.d h. dt'$,al'U'.~ of a111. n-etiQO that th. mino~lty in tn. ~tb will now! vot. fo:~ LooIJr out of g:.-atitu fOl"ilt x-.. cal149 an wa. fHeadto de ' to mainta n ' " itt'$h prest q . ; .

4) t he m no tty is &'tt. ptin the "'r\} tf'leu:lttask of' ttil: 'ng it&- ownol.ltleal party at the l'>rq~t ti.me . In 4'0 Ago,. via f~ Soc: al r~ moc}" tie a d 'LattUr P~l"t-y. it as ,ltM9ed to attr ct Ittpt'Qrt I 'rom. _mont ot et'a, ~ tt ,of,_tbe O1'the;rn 11"&1and Labous P'31't"f . {Mr ., Paddy . • 1 , n J., ~.:t"t of tn. 1.P ,bll~an Labour . $rty' < 1'~ .. 1&:tr' tMP) .. f'a:t't of -tb. ~ Gt! on&! st Pa:tty Hl%' . AU$ t 1n cu ... :tt~ M . ~ . tlt' ft9 re' ~$ontatt_ f)'_ tb. Qtlginal, c1v'11 . l ,btl

-t'ov~t .. . ,l',. J , n • . ' • t~ !' ." r,,4'Cl Cooper MP r.tnd ~,. f' a ' y f\ 'J ' anIon ,~p} . ., 1ntr~ '$ .f ,ttl t %!tish L ro~ a:tty nto

n:olltlc ts 00-" wl11 . e ~ ,,..cnt~and <> ~)vo-~ed strr~ngly Y ' 11 t esc leetsd r 1. t'e (:ntatlves ilf te minority.

S) t 'b two .. j~r pelltical pa~t" e$ hJiJ;~·e. . lanniJ ~il and ' nil Ga 1. , , hav~·, $ t')f,i C 1" ful m>t. to or~dtS.. tb_9~lve$ in tb. ·lntl't al t '0 any Ir ' ~ . ollt $eal paTty a Al9h&'t_ l!"lg.ht to. d,o $.0 tuan any ~ritls:. , .011 tical pa;tty. l rtst,e)a;d thtft.r , lley it$, b9~rl to

, rtta ~ it Lialso..n with the tna OJ! olJP~$ttl00 -tv in th. totth. ,ttl rs.:(,i tl'l th~ m 'Of opp~.1tlon pa:rty as ttl ' .ti~n list

," arty 'Itt eh ha c' ~$.ide:r,ablv l()st i,n pl'~sti ~ e aDd nfl~nc. "OJ' 'rtas J'J Wh,ch r need not go, tnt.' t\OIll.., !t apt') r'l t ,e @ in the . ~st "'nt :It st$, Qf all iftvolv. ~t,at ·' . ' eral 'p¢licy 0 rJo~

l:ta !'lon ,. et E1n tht JOV'tmmmt hE!',r@ e.nd t1 .. pr nei '1 ?p(}sitiotl pa'ty in the> .Jol'th $ou14 . ccntltlUt'td r~.l'th$l!' tb_n h ;Jt th., major partes !lxfa' $h · ··ld t1 s.Qlv~4 ~t9't! ttl JX'l:1tic! a ()I'l«. i", t it '!o~th. ~n$ot · l' a,a. i aMa ~.il and . i1lJ · ... a1ifl , a\1~ r~.'t.a,ln,e.d ~em1u;o1Yn$: in, t ill ritu~ tiel) :O~ tb9~.ral '. ODd t .. It lqbt. b~~J(~.ct'ed that l'r~. ;all~g~ $h~Jld l laos,lay out of ttu', " alttJatl.cm.

I . ..

e) til ' g r:m oll¢y' on th~ NO:t~h .P~O&SH~d ' 'y fJ't$' Tc'.$it't;< c:h fs d~stt1n~ te i t: C 11 ' 3~ r~t cilt ,~tl~n ~t ~$" North <u\(1 lout . • !n t t" i$. , pee '. ' ,r in J) lJ ... t , M to <C Ol.;!;"" 0 pr S$UTfl in this di.~ ,:c t,1 , , t"00t t p Cerr n ~ ,&stmir.lcst~:t' wh1.t. , . w.hJ le , 0.14 1:09 t'<.l " t & t!W ~'i+ t • :torth 1& &. titled to 1"4mJai ' B~ltl'b", if a maj rlty th~~ l$he it. ap,peat'$ t ,Q • ave a , ... at.~ hl~torieal . se1\t. ,n d~-c , ttft a-nd ap .. ea'l"$ , ~1ml:y teo r.o11_ tll'ft II d or an atual ;J\iw.I aX' :-a.n~_e'Qt. X-. Ca,ll.agJ an' s cnne~', , ?":! .l"l.J"t!' '¢tlly ¢Gnt'f~!lI'" to tin\, ,tiuch $upp~,l t 1 ~ ": I t W(}tl! . 0 t _,u Jt 1se me :tift. pr i va:t.e:ly lTell@v(J'$ t n t' t. th~ mif4ol'ity in th& ' ortbw,(JU ri t~ glad t~l:'~ln ,~ iti!h :I f tb~y ar't' t!aated e qually wS:tbelr C1e19hbou~$.' ~,,~ i f he 'Wer~ l;lght i n t ,hl·& -(tr~ttd.n'{J . t ~ it:h I . dls&9.1"·~ very .tr<mgly - it i$ in. the

'fnt'l?f~t of' our ~,en(tral t)ol , y t · a $ s (H ld not. be all(JWqd to tJ;Y f &1" s ach U$ Ql 1. , f~ _ Ml'. Callacgnan· $ $;Up ort fer th,o i de (;f intsg a oed ducat l¢n ' St 0" *' p; e-ce tl h th sU<$pee't~d vi , thiit he y v -.:.ry f ar :r ' nd~t t nd.ing the mi n()rity t n tb,$ Uo:rth .

I n ·tt)e e.1l'C:~'r. .• t nto. ~;gC;M ,' ,nd t b., toll.tn,g ...

~~. should c ' 0&(: firmly t e llaghan s ugqO-$t1 on atld mat. i.t cl.ea.r to him ·t 'h19t it 1. not. a'Ce*ptabi:e to the l.. ublil\ Cnverrtmenti.

1f ~ 1'1" . os-e-s to ~ ahea.d ir! fp it~ £if t'b15$l O':J1d make our ~4ftG liQl;/rl, t$c Mt . wit . ~n ,afld 't.o 11thr bOVJt l'fl~dfRl'S 11k.

'~n1. i loy ~() t at t. y :~lll knf>w thQ Gov.(¢~tt" v1_ c4Vi'U"u:", 'of' , t ~m.e , -ftg'. t the: ,'!atlco"l E~eC:,\J:ti'v~ and Vi'lll ae t n gn.oI' ~tl·e · oi' it;.

I ••

/

4)