NATIONAL ARCHIVES

IRELAND

Reference Code: 2006/131/1412

Creation Date(s): 12 September 1976

Extent and medium: 8 pages

Creator(s): Department of Foreign Affairs

Access Conditions: Open

Copyright: National Archives, Ireland. May only be

reproduced with the written permission of the

Director of the National Archives.

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eMBASSY OF IRELAND. MOSCOW .

PH ') Cj /?G

12 ~cptembcr 1976

Sovjets conrlrmn Provjsjonal TPA

A mn,ior cond(:tnnrl..i.ion of' the Provisionrd TT~1\ has appe::ircct

"Prob.l ems o:f Pence r>tHi Socin l.i~m, :1 Sovi ct-con1.rol J cd

monthly for the world communist movement. The condemnntion

comr>s in a joint article eni.i.tlcd "Trjsh Communists and

1'error.i!'lm",· spocinJly 1vrit.ten C'o1~ f.he purpose hy ~1jCl1r1C]

O'Riorcir.m, Gcnernl Sccrrtnry of tiie Commurdst PC!rty or Trelnnct

rmd llcti.y Sinolnir, n m~;mbr-r of' the l'ari.~''s Nrlt. ionnl l~xc!r:•'• i'\.r­

puhJ ished Cornrrdttce. The journaljis Jn thirty l<HJr:uaf;es ~•nd circnl:-~Lcs

in 11-1-::; couni.r:ies. nuL L1H: j Lldiv:i.dual lan,~ua,c;es i~sncs ;:;rc

not nl '.,rays id eni. i C[ll in content ns \vas cxernpJ. i:fi ed las 1 yC>n r

;,·hen n Fr<'!nch lrmr,un{)e issue :fajled to carry a militnnt

8rtic-le ,,·1Jich uould hnve hRrmrd the image o.f' the PCF. The

reproduction of' this art i clc in a Hussian Jang1H.1r,'e i ssuc

thcref'ore has the si.f>;nLficance that it represents a

delihcrate move by the Sovjets to express '' ppro va 1- .

th0 view~ expressed in th0 Article .

Terrorism, thC> article says, is nn a Jmo st daily occ11rrencP

mu.rcler.s,

~omhin~H, hijackin~s (jn c lud ing 1r~ins as in JrclRnct),

nnd (in on obvious rc.ferc•1ce to the Jle;rcma C:" se) the tF~kinr,-

or hostar,es. Jn Ireland's C'1'e, ,.,e arf~ told, i'1H:; re h as hccn

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EMBASSY OF I ELA"lD. MOSCOW .

PH (l c'i /76

12 September 1976

Sovjpt~ conrlrmn Provjpjon~l TRA

A m:1,jor conrl('lnn~tion of' 'fhe Provisioncd TR ,\ has appe~rcci

"Problems of' Peace r>nn Socifllif'm, a Soviet-contr01lr:-d

monthly f'or the world communist movement. The conr.emnntion

comps in a jojnt ~rticle eniitl~r1 "Irjsh Comfllunist.s ann

Tcrl'orjsm" , ' spnciaJly ""ri1.1.en ('or the purpose by Jlicl1l'lcJ

O ' RiorciF,ltl, Genernl Secretary of' the Communist Party 0(' Trclnllil

Dnrl fletty Sinclnir, n mf"1II1"''"'r of (he 1'8r1.),'s T~ t;onfll I;:XCI";II, ivl'

puhl ished Commi ttce . The journal/is l.n ihi.rty lanr:u<lGes Hnd circul<l Los

in 145 countries .

not nlways idenlical in content ns wns exemplif'jed last yenr

when A French lnnBuflr:e isf'uC f'ailed to carry a militnnt

[1rticle '''hich would have harmed Ule image 01' the PCf' . The

reprOdlJction of' this article in a Hussian languaGe issue

therefore has the si~ni:ficance that it represents a

d e l jherate move by the Soviets to expre-ss "pproval·

' 01' - the views expressed in thn Ar t i cle .

Te r rorism , the article says , is an a l most dai l y occllrrence

o n 8 "'orlrl-wi ne f'cr,lf' pnd t akf's vilri OllS form!' : murder",

~omhjn~~ , hj j nckjn~s ( jnc l udin~ trRins a" in IrelRnd ),

~nd ( in Dn obvious re f' ercnce to the Her=rema c Cl s e) the takin~

o f' h 0 5ta~es . In Ireland ' s c~!e , we arA told , there hns h~en

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h:istoricRlly

to ~·hr ke of'f

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<\ "p·q:;sjon J'or vio]c~ncc" horn or (.1 desire ihe or1.icle pointr, out,

nritish rule. Hut,/Lhe .ri.rst mn._ior

t t r L l · · ct t · y :i. t 111 1 · f' mnn.if'C>s f' ion o 1~s J.n mo ern .1me.s . · 1<' po 1.cy o

"Lndjvidunl terror" or tho Fcninn rnovr.mcnt, Hns criticised

by Mn rx and I•:nr:e l.c; a l t:hour,-!1 tl,cy ;-, drnircd th n persona ·r the

cournge oi' tllc l'c\Jl'ians. Ljko/,;ood i-lnrxists tl1ey arc: the

<-1UtJ10rs of: the nrti clc li~·vc a universal expJ anation :for

terrorism in any pnrt o:f the world. q u o t i n c L c n in ( "1{11 at

is to he done") they f.i .ncl it to he t.he inevitnbl.0 outcome or

one o.f his greatest and most renoHned - poJiticnl aversjons,

''l'"pontancitv", n typically "petty bour,rreoi~" f'rntnc of' minrl

,,, h i c h e ("i u n.ll y {': c n e r n t c d t h c~ r ( · v i s .i on t s t c v :i l of " e c o n o t n .i. s m "

(,vai.tinr; for "~-ti . story to :ful.fi ll H<irx' s prophecy ins tend or

r.·iv:i.n,r; histor-.,. a goorl pu.c;h) .

But , ns t.he authors orr> only too well a'vnrc , tlds kind of'

VrJGUe f:'CYlerRl;i sin(" doesn 1 i CHSt 11111Ch Jj n;ht 011 any1.llin,c;.

Thus , hRvi n("' f"'Ot the r;en~rnl ;i sed 1 i turr:i c;>l ohcisnncc to

Lenin out of 1.1'P. Hny they get do•,·n to hras~ t.nclc ns rer;nrrls namely , Lhe Provisionnls thr> rire of' ,,•horn is dc!"cril)ldns.f'O]Jm,-s.

' vh Cit.ir- re<'l.l.ly on their minos , / 1.idcsprCc1<1 cliseriminntiolt

in Northern Jr0lnnd as fro111 1920, the article says , jn an

admission 1vhi ch S oviet renders "'i] 1 :find revea] in~ ,

"l ed to nlicnation het,.,.(•en t lt c Catholic and Protestant

'"orkers ", ~-nd the result ,,•as many camp<d.gns of' " " indivirlunl

.terror" by the THA ( espedally from 1956 to 196?) o p0rati1op,-

" compl ct0 l y detached :from i.hc stru:;gle' of' the workers " fer

t h e i r rl em o c rat i c r j_ ({ h t s • Jiut the J1L\ got only 11 insiP,ni ricAnt

s u pport ·· from t. he CF~ tho l i c 11 mi nori ry 11 ( th c nrt :i.cl e m<-d<e s c 1 ear

t here- nrc around a mi 1 J ion Proi·cstant s to 11e rP-ckonc-d '' j tl') nnd

its leaners starte-d to .studv r-onno l ly , Lenin 11 r1no o ther ~liJr':ic:t~

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historicRlly n "P'lI'Ajon 1'01' violpnce" horn of'" desire th~ arlicle pointA out,

to !"h"l<e Of'1 HritiAh rnlp. nul'/,ho .first mnjor

. d i . 'I i t111 l' f manif'0st r tiol1 or t.llis J,D mo ern .J mes .. 1(' po l.cy 0

''individual 1.('1'1'01''' or the Fenian rnovf'mcnt, Hns c1'itici~ed

hy 1'1nrx ~lTI d !':ngel!'; alt.hour,-h 1; ll cy .,dmircd thn persona " tllp

courn ge 01' tile I'pnians. Likc!/~oocl ;"arxjsts they are the

Authors of the articlc h a ve a universal explanation .for

terrori~m in any pnrt of' the ,~orld. Quotinr Lenin ("\"hRt

is to be done") they rind it to be l;he inevi tabl c outcome 0.1 I

one of hi~ greatest and most renoHned' polj tic1'Il aversj ons ,

"f'pontaneity", n typi.cally "petty bour ,"'eoi.~· " frnl 'le of' mjnci

\~hich e(~l1n1Iy (~f'ner;\tcd 1110. revisjonjst ev:il of "eC01101Ili sTIl"

('~C1j .. t;n(" ror l:il-'tory to :fulf'ill ~'Flrx's prophecy in~1.(';)d of'

r::iv:i.nr: history a good pu~h).

Bui, ns the <'uthors nr'" only tOll well :""'[1rl', this kind of'

vAflue ("I'~cralisinr dopsn't CAst ~leh Ij~l1; on anythinp.

Thus, hAvjn,... 1"01. thp. F,'en0rnlised liturr:ic:"l oheif'n ncc to

Len;n out of' tllp. 1HI)' they ("et dO"'11 to brrr.sf' trlck rlS l'p.F,'::lrrls namely , the Provisionflls thl' rife of' "'hom is de~cri1'Edns1'ollo,,'S.

' "h at .. if' really on their minds.! l.idcspreCtd rliscriminntioll

in Northern IrelAnd RS from 1920, the article says , jn an

admission '''hich Soviet renders ld11 1"ind revealin(!"

"l ed to alienation bet1vcen the CAtholic and Protestant

HorIcers" , and U,c ref'ult ,,'as Jnany campnir,-ns 01' ''''indi'l:irlual

,terror" hy the TH}\ (especjally 1"rom 1956 to 1962) o ppralil,G'

" c omplete-ly detached rrolll Ow stru,n;g-le' 0:(' thc wo rkers " fcr

tl]cir democratic rj.(; I11.<; . nut the rHA got only ";nsiF,'nif'ici'1l1t

s u pport" f'rom t.h" CAtholi.c "minor:i t.y" (the flrticlp. mrlkes clear

its lC'H'lcrs starte-r1 to stud" Connolly , Leni.n "ilnd othnr , lar':i .<:t.

MOSCOW .

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• 1\ s a re foul t the TH,\ bcgnn to rc fJ c ct on the "soc:iaJ Aide o .f

af':f'air" ancl ~ocial:isru in gcnor<1J, f0rm.in(; at tlJc end of' the

19o0's nn nlJ:ianr.P. \d.th th<' Communists nnd "otht:>r pror~r<" s sivc

lorccs" in the ,\·!"oc:i n tion 1'or C.iv:i.l Hir~hts :in 1\'orth<'t.~n

lrelnnd.

bourgeois idcrts" in urr;in,; continued nse of' 'force nnd

ter, or and :in "cni, irE~ly cionyinr; thr f'ip;nif'icance of' mass

f'lTllf'; r;Je, the mns• lllOVCrJent of i.oiJcrs, in ,,rhich the \.-Ork:inrr

elnsf' /sc. the Cornmun:i~t P<lrtv7 ''ntllrl play the learlinr:- roJ(•" • .....

At th{") snme t:i.rnc they considered thP.msclves to he an

"eJitc" Hho could do all tl i!• nlo11e lcnv:i.nt: ii to the p e ople

them~clvcs l o decide ,,,hat kind of' count.ry they Hantcd.

Tllc n.rtj c~ o indirectly links the Trisll Government ,.·ith t.lH~

rise of' the Provlsionnls. For not only Stormont bu i also

the Dublin Govcrnmeni. saw n "i.hrcc.•t" in t·he 11 r•wss movemcn l"

unitinr; ~·ociP~list republicans nnd communists »'hich could

Hpill ovrr into the South. Duhlin thrrclore offrrc~ £1UO,OOO

to the JfL'\ to defend th~ Cc:tthoJics of llP.l.fast. Hh:ile the

JR/\ re,;cctecl th.if' "unprincjpJ.r'cl" of'f'cr the f'nture le<'l.dcrs .

CP1Crpcd into the open in J970.

1'hc artjcl(· then condemnf' at 1( nr;th the t~ci ics of the

Pro vis ionaJ.s who procl irned tiJ <'~ t they \vOttld a i. tc:1 ck only

the .\rm,...d l'orces . F~ut., in rnct the vict:irn8 of their

bombjng attacJ·s h;"~vc been "mainly t ho cjviljan popul<:1t.jon" .

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MOSCOW.

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• /\s a re<'\11 t the Tn,\ began to re fJ cct on the "snci' 1 Rid<, of' tl c

a:f-fair" 1lnci :=;oc;:\1 j sm in r;cnc.t"n] . f'0rminG at tl:c end of' the

19()O' S an n 11 j nnrl' ,,,ith th(' Communi !'le .. Dnd "other pro{,;l'<'ssive

rorceR" in Lh(' .\ ':=; 0cjDtion i'or Cjvjl Tli(~hts in Nortll('rn

Irelnnd.

bourneois irlefls" in urnin"; conLinupo use o:f f'orce fi nd

ter ; or and ;in "c111irely c'lenyinr 1.11(' ~i{'"njf'jcance 01" mnss

s1ruP'n1e • the mflS' 1l10Verlent of toiJers, in ",hiGh Ihe ,vorkin,...

clasf' Ise . Ihe Communj st P;'1rf' •. :7 "('Itllrl plny the leilrlil1{\' 1'oJ (''',

At thp 8<'lIIe ('irnr> t i'cy conR; de:'!l"eci tlll'msel yes to he an

"elite" "he> cO\lld do all f".hi!' nlolle lea'.'jnr~ ii to the pC'ople

them:=;elves 1.0 decide '''hat kind o:f country they HantctL

The arU cle i ,nriircctly links the Trish Government "'it.h the

rjse o:f the ]>rovi&ionnls. For 1101. only ~tormont bu t aJ so

the Dublin Govern.nent. saw a "thrc<.l t" in the "Mass movemen 1 "

l1nitin(" ~ocinlic:;t republicans nn(l communists which could

ppill OV0r into the:'! South . Duhlin th<'rcfore off('rrcl £100,000

t.o the IHA 10 defend t.he C",tho]icB of nr>]i'ast, l\'hile the

JTl.A re.iecled th.il? "unprinciplf'cl" o:f'f'cr the :future leadcrs ,

o:f the ProvjsioTln]!> "-'nrep.n ",jth it" nnd the n0~" ("roup

nmerped into the open in 1970,

Thn art:ir.ln then condeMn!" at l'lll';th tIle t2clies of' the

Provj sionaJ.. who proel,jmed tllat they ,,,ouId a1.tnc)- only

the ;rmf'rl lorecs. t"1 ut. f in fnct 1.]lC' vi etiml? of their

bombing <'l.ttac)-s hnvC' been "mc.inly til e eivilj;'1n popul;:d.jon".

El'Vilf"J'I":S'S"ro F IRELAN 0 . MOSCOW

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• F R c t 0 r i c s ' s llf) p !" ' h 11 :i 1 n j I) rr ~ ...... THi fh I c I 1 :i. n r,- h 0 11 s e s 11 a v e

he(' n i. h (' t D T r.- c t .~ 0 r t I If ! i r h 0 m h :i n r ~ .

l o !" f L11 P .i. r 1 i v c I i h n o d ~ , t h r n r t j c .l e s a y s , s p e 11 i n r•

this on t in ctet n. :i l, '"h :i 1 e ~turU ous .l.y r c fr w i n ·i nrr f'rorn

,... i vi n .'{ on e 5 i. a t i r; t i c on t h r cos t i n huma n l i v c 5 •

Perh ... ps Lhe Prov:i s·ionals cons ole themselve s 'dth the

t.hou[:ht t:h n t the y : r 'e rn :• l in g- condi t l on s "in t o] ern b.lc"

ror Lhe "occnp;'li .. i on:i sts", cl1Hr {~Cf' the a rti cl r , but t1HO\

f''1ci.. is i.lwt i1 is the "o·1•dina ry people> ,.:ho a re

suf'i'erin{~ most. :from thr terror a nct its soc:ia 1 c-onse q n c> nces".

1'h0 tRct. ics or the Provi~d on als s ee•n -to h e " mu r d e r :ror t h e

"thou,.Jd-out pro ~Jrnmme of' dcmr~nds, no i dc n oi' ,.,hat ](incl

o :r J r c l :• n ci t l1 c y , ., Fl 11 t a n r1 f o r 1 h e s n k e o i' w h :i c 11 t 11 e y s lJ o d

h1ood ,.,ith Sl'Ch 'frivolity - hoth tl,eirs and espe>cinlly

othnr~. 11 • Instead they rush "f'rom one o xtrr>ne to

r~nother" . One da ~r theY "' <lV they ere no lonr·cr th:ink:in r;

of' a u nited J re ln.n d :1 nd nrc prepared to t;i ve t 11~ lJni o n·i f; t s

not f'ix hut 1.hc ninP count.:ic'-' of' UJstc:r .

they tn J k nbout viphl('; flc l fnst rrom the i';1ce of' the enrtl1

stone hy stone .

The political consequences of' the Provision,tl.s t .actics

are seen as djsastrous . Firstly , n violent P1·otestRnt

backl<tsh has been Rencrn.tod . Ticf'orrjrrr,- to the 1975 Party

Con{"ress the <1.rtjcJe po .int s out t.1wt the Provj s ionnls '

terror carnpnj r;n has "cntn.st:roph i ca11 y deepened the ~pJit

,\nrl cit i nr,- Clnud Cockburn ( T ri sh

Times of' 8 Jnne 1976) it. point~ to i.hr> •::rnnnjnr: of'

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t: 0/.::' )" VI- I/tt:;LAI u, MOSCOW

Fnctorir:s, c; 1'0PY', hnilrlj 11"1'1 ... nn (lIH~ Iljnr; hO\l"'es have

10!"1 t .el)' 1ive1 jhnO(1~, 11", art.icle ~Ry~, Rl1nl.lill('

thi~ Ollt in oetroi 1, , .. hi 10. ~tU( iou!-'ly r"fr<1inin'" from

r:ivin~ ona stAtiftic on thp cost in human lives.

Perh~p5 the ProvisionalE console themselvcs with the

thou{rht thnt ill"Y : re m .• ] inr; conr!'j t ion!' "intol er:·b1c"

for the "occllp::Iti onists", chHl'{.cl" the art-Lc1(', lmt 11'<,

f'<.let is th<1 t i 1 j s t11e "ordj n::lr)' people , ... ho nre

su1'f'erin(~ mo~t "from thp terror nnd i 1.s social conseq1lcnces".

"thoUf"ht-out pro~rilmme of' dCnlAnds, no ideCl of' ,.,hat kind

ot' Tre];'nn tIle r WAllt anr] for Ihe ~al<:e of' ,·hie ' , t11ey shod

blood ,,,lth slleh fri.voljty _ hot11 theirs and e5peeil'l1]y

othr·rf" . In tend t.hey rus1, "frolll one extr(>ne to

ilnot.hnr" • One dny they cny t Ioey t"re no 10n."'Br thinkinr

of' a u nited Jrelnnd <1lld aI'C'! prepared to Give tJI~ lJniollisl~

not ~ix hut. the nin(' count.ie~ of' UJster .

they tan- <1bout "'ipin(,; R01 f<1st rrol11 the :r .. ee of' the enrtJl

stonE' by stone .

The po] i ti cal conse<lucnees of' the Provi S-lOnd1.s tactics

are seen as disastrous . l"irst1y , n violent 1'1' oLestant

hackl;,sh has been generated . nef'errin'{; to the 1975 Party

Conp-reSR the nriicJe points ou1< 111<1t the Prov:ision[lls '

terror c8.lIIp<1ir,n has " cn tastrophicalJy der.pened the !'plit

am.m,n; t.he pop\llntjon" . J\nrl eitinr,- ClnurJ Coel-burn (Trish

Times or 8 JlIne 1976) it. points to OH' "fann:inp,' of'

MOSCOW

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• se:>crotnrian pasnion". 'T'h .i s m o h i. 1 i .s e s f; u 1, 1' or t :f' or t h n

lJni.onist uJ t r<ts wl•o are nbl e to "st. rcnr~tben their

react i onn ry posit ·i on s nrnon:; a P '"' rt o.f the Pro 1 c s 1:<tn t

Horkin,c; clnss on n sP.ctari:ln h<lsis".

Scc('ndly, t.lw Provisiona1s 1 policy helps to H:irtcn the

in:f.lucnce of' "certain or1pori:ullist lenders" of' the

SDLP c:mon~ i.he Catholic ,,·orkers.

'l'hirclly, public syrnp:1thy is nrou1"ed :for proponcni s of' lnH

nnd order, ns ''rts part.ic11l:>:rly cv:i.rlcnt. on tlH' occasion

or 1he murder of' tlH' Dritish Amhcts!nrlor :i.n l>uhlin: "all

the sympLlthy of' fhe pnhlic 1-1as .irnrncr1i[ltely on the sirlc of'

the victirM> of terror Rnd :i.n 11Je :final nnalysis

on the side o:f the Dritish ndmin.istration".

The authors o~ the article arc nwnre of' a polemical

ohj<•ction io he overcome. :It is true, they concede (statin~ a

lollf~-stnnrli.rw Soviet vie,,.), thc-tt the "true ihi tiators nnd

perpotrntors of' terror" have been "British impcr:inlism and

its Unjonist nl.lies" . ~ The .hnrp-shoot.ers and

rlyn<tmiters oi' the ITIA have lwen therefore "sjmply sccldng

to retlJrn hlo''' for hl.O'.v 11 • llut, Arlmonishns the article, ,iu~t

as the nritjs}l ,"c"· 1·ons c-olve 1 ~"·11" ,, L - • I 0 l • '1 h , n c~ i the r do i h o s e o f

1hc Provis:ionals . The tension cannot be dischnr('"ed by

" t ..... co u n e r -· \~ s c a l n. t i on " o 1 v; o 1 c n c e ,,. h j c h a f :f e c t s t h e c i vi 1 i an

population in th~ first in!'tancc nnd s:irnply rlcepr:'ns

The Provision !ls ' violence must be

" t e r l'li n P 1" c d u n c n n d i t i o n n 1. 1 y n s h" r1 1 fu J 1 o 1 he c au s f) o f t. h c

J rish pcnplP".

MOSCOW

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• spcrctnrlan pHSf;ion". 1'11is lIlohi.1 ise!' f'1I1'l'Ort :for thr.

Unionist llllrns '''ho arc 3010 1.0 "strcn(~then their

renct i OnFJT'Y posit-j ons amon"' a p 'lr t of tllC' Pr01 C!] 1.<lnt

Norkinr; Cl:l!'iS on <1 spctari:ln hnl-'is".

Secnndly, thH Provisionals' poljcy hplps to Hjricn the

inf'lllcnce of' "certain opportullist londers" 01 the

S])LP c::monfi i:h(' C"tholic ,,·or1{('rs.

Thirrlly pUhlic ~.'mpnthy i!'i "rouf!pd f'or proponent f! of' 10."

;lnd order, <If' "<If! pi'lrticll]<'rly evident on 1:]1(" occasion

or 1he lnurdcr of' I;h(' British J\mhns~ <'loor jn Duhlin: "a] 1

the sympathy of' 1he pt blic Has imrnoc1intely on the side of'

the victill1H or terror And in 1he f'ino] flnalysis

on the side of' the Drjtish ndll1inistrat:ion".

The authors 01' the article arc n"nre o:f a polemical

ohjoction 10 he overcome . Tt is true, they concede (. tating a

lonr:-stnnoi.n/· Soviet vie",) , that the "true ihitintors and

perpotrators of' terror" have heen "Brjtish imper:inlism and

i ts lrn:ionist allies" . The 1 hnrp-shoo1.ers and

rlyn:Jmiters of' the InA have lwcn therefore " Simply se~J.~jng

to rp-turn h101" ror hI 0'."" • J~t, Admonishes the article, jUf't

as the flri ti sh actions f'olve not!:in{: , n(~ither do i ho e of

the Provisionnls. Tile tension cannot be dischn.rr.ed by

" t '-coun cr-(>Acalntion" of' violence which nf':fects the ci.vilian

population in l.h~ f"ir~t in~thnr.e and A:irnply cleepens

" f-ect<lrinll diVisions" . The Provision;-,l s ' viol('nc(' must be

"terl'linpted unconditionnlly I1S h"rllful 10 the C<'llSP of the

Jrish p"qplp" .

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MOSCOW .

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Th, s i rm i f' i . c ~ n c e o f' t h c n r t. i c J c lie s i n 1 1H' 'f <H; t i. h"' t. j t

v

repr~ f'en is thP fir~t sy~.tct·•a1ic ?nd :idcnloc··icn.l

ct•ndornn n 1 ion of tlle ProvisionnJ.s puhJ j .shed in ~~ mnss

circulation rnerli1nn in the Sov:i.ct Union, for the journal

,.,.ill he f'ouncl on sa.1 c at nl 1 the major ne,,rspnpcr

kiosks thrOl.l{,llout tlle co11nt.ry. The nri.iclc can

therefore he taken as a ma,ior shift in t.hP f:oviot nttitude

I'or up to noH tho role o:f

the Provi < ion;:~ ls j n the violence in the Nort 11 hn~ , with

.c:otnr~ rare r.xccpt.ion~ (e . r;. Kot~c.:omol~kny<'~ Prnvdn), heen

con!'dstenlly :fudp;ed rnd t.11c lJJarnc :for lhc mountinr;

vioJC'nce l·1 irl excl11r-ivcly ni. 1hc door o" 1hc 11ritish

depict t•d nc: uorkinf ln hnnd-:i.n-(Tlovc. 1\nrl nno-+J,cr clem~"'nt ,,•hie that

f"ovict. r~nders \vil.l f:i.nrl ertirP.ly nc'\o.' is th0 idcn/therc

is/ sectnr·i nn gul.f bc~t\vecn the CH1.1JOJ.i c [lnd Prot e.stant

"' 0rkPr~ . Up to now Ulis Flspect has hccn muf.flcd ,

ind!"ed , f'or the most pnrt., totally S\l P1)ressed , nnd tJ1e

impression conveyed h s been thnt British militnry action

h as been dirPcted as much nr~·ainst ordinur y Protestant

workors ns Catho l jc o n es .

IVhe1t h"".s rlf"I.Prmjned th~ t. i minr- o1 the artic l e i~ not c1'3r~r.

llu t i.he nrt i cle rom<lrks alrnos\. incidc:ntally but

perhAps rcvenlin~ly:

l • ,

•

MOSCOW .

- 6 -

The id rmii'icance of' the nrLi cle lies iT1 1 h0. J<'lct t.h<'lt j t

candC'l1T1P I ion o .r the Pro\'isionnl~ pul'J islled in ,I m;1SS

circulation menillm in the Soviet Union, for the journal

will he f'ound on sale at all the major newspaper

kiosks throu~~out the country, The articl0. can

therc£ore he taken as a major shift in the Soviet attitude

to'varns tJle Provi,d ono.ls. Por up to now the role o:f

the Provi~. ionals in the violence in 1he North l1ns , with

SOIlIQ rare exceptions (e . rr . KOfllf<omolsl(nya Prflvclu), heen

consif'tently :fudged 'nd tl1C h18me :for the 1l101lntinr;

v'; olrnee l"irl exr::lupively nt 1he door 0'" ihe l1riiish

depjctud os workin~ in hAnd-in-rr1ove. ~n~ nnothcr clemGnt that

Soviet readers will :find ertjrely new is thn idea/there A

is/sRctarinn gulf' between the Cat.holic nnd Protestant

workers . Up to now this aspect has been muff'led ,

indeed , :for the most part , totally suppressed , And the

impression conveyed h 5 been that Brilish mili~ary action

h as hean dir' c ted as much RITainst ordinar y ProLestant

workers as Catho l jc o n es .

lfuat h~s rlpLer~jnerl thn timinr o~ the article i e not clPRr.

Bu t the article remRr]{S almost. incidental ly but

perhnpA ~evealinn ly :

IVTVUGVtrY •

1 • t

- 7 -• "in both part!" of' J.re1(3.nd nnd ;llso jn tlr it::dn

f'orce s".

Docs the .Irish pnrt.y con[.;ider U1<~t the i'urthcr

ler,-islation rPcenily introducnd couJd some day

be used a,n;n:inst it?

I t. i s a 1 l f h c rn or c pa r ad n :-. i r: a J t; h e r" 1 or c t 1w t t, lt e

nrticle c:;houl.d go out o:f its '''i'lY to re-af'f'irm

R conllnii.mnni. (no1 • boin,- discartl~d by oihor \'of·t

Europenn pnrtic!") - the o.ld-!".iy.le LPnjniPt hrnncl of'

v ·iolence Fhi.ch is "·ort:11 quot.:in~ At lcn{'·i.l1:

JreJancl , ,,·e communists do tlti.c; nof. from J::tck of

revoJ ut j on.1ry dcci1"i vcncss or an i nsuf'~"'i ciency

o :f J,oJdness in cominr out :f'or n ,jnf't c~usc 1;ith

arms in hands when t1tis :is n<~cessnry . No ,

sornethjnf" dif-ferent is invo l ved - o n r

respon!;ihle attitude t..m•ards the strnP."ele is

tl,le interest o:f the ,,·orl,inrr class and ror

the nationnl r.-oals of all the pf!ople . Pro m

i hc bi ttcr lrisl1 expcrienr:e ,,,e bcc3P1e conv i nced

J on,. :=t{':O or the corrPctnes.s of the concJnsion o:f

V • T • L c n i n t h n t 1 i n r] i y j cl u a J t c r r or i s t s 1 n c t: j on 5

ot' poli i i.cal f: t.ruc:rJ e 1 •

}1n.rxists , L0njn 'l.vrot.c , do no1. rlcny in th,.. l east thP

• t

- 7 -• "in hoth pnrt~ of' Ircl('lnd nnd "Iso ill IJritai n

:forcei'''.

Does the Jrj sl1 part.y con~dder that the :further

let;;slatjon rr>cent~y introdllced cOl.11 d some day

be used "nninst jt?

Ii is aJ 1 I he nlorn parario:\ic;11 iller' :forc tllClt tl1c

rlrti cle ·ho\llc1 go out o:f i j s 'HI)' to rc-n:ff'irm

a conwli i !Ton j (no\ b(~.i nrr discaruccl 1JY oil or \ e~' t

Europe<1n P<1 rt ics} - tll!~ 01 ri- ."iyl(' Lf'l1jn;!>t bri'lncl of

violenco ,·'h i. ch is worth qlloi.;i .nn at lon,o-1.I1:

"In conrip.llIninr UIC pe t 1 y-"ou'~r.eo is ex j rem; 1'111

"bir.h hrls bJos!>oln"d gO pr()rl..1~ely in Northern

IreJnnei . Fe comlllllnists do tll;" nol. rrom Jack o:f

revolutjonRry dcci!>ivcnpss or an insl..1f'ficicncy

o f boldness 1n cominr out :for Ft jll~t Cf\.use , .. ith

arms in hands "'hen this j s n ecessary . No ,

somethinp dirf'erent is invo l ved - our

responsihlE" nttiturlf' Lmvnrds the strup"gle is

tbe interest of the workin~ class and For

the nationftl £70,.ls or 01 1 the pf'ople . Fro m

1 he bi t ter Tri 51, experience 'vc hecal'le c on"i need

1 0n" ana or the correctnrs$ of' the COllc]l1s;on of"

V . J . Lenin thnt ' inrJivjeiu:11 terrorists ' ncti()n~;

of' T'oli 1 icnl s t.r\ll"'{," l ( I •

I •

•

•

EMBASSY OF IRELAND. MOSCOW.

- g_

p1•inr.:iplc of vjolcnCC ;Hl!l terror in rnlai.ion to

v:i ol cncc <'!i arc c<:~rricd oul· ,,j i..h the direct.

pnrl·icip;d. ion of' ilJc. t•la~ser.. nc never t ·i rPd of

rcg;-1rdcd ns a ,c;cnnine politicaJ .stru{';{~le. On.ly

inn. direct inuPerlinto l:ink ,,•it.h a mass movement

cn.n Dnd ~hould individual terrorist acts be of'

vnluc'. l'rom our point. of' vic': this :ic; thP. on.ly

correct. ,,•ay of posinr; !.he cttle st ion, jt bcjnr, a

h

humane nnd rl c c;j s i vc ono at one rJTtd the ~a me and

i'rPc J'rom tlH~ cruelty propPr to nrlverturi~m

(Fmpha.s is

m1 pu.l i c d :i n or .i r,-i nl'l 1 ) •

J\mhassarlor

Note:

The En~Ji~h lnnr:1wgc if'~ue ~hould norMnlly he ovailable in nroun-1 n montl1's time.

. .

l •

•

EM8ASSY OF IRELAND. MOSCOW .

- ~-

11rir1riplc or violcr1cC nnd 1 Tl'or 'in rf'lation to

tile cl;> .c;!" ",,"'my vi111o\11. whie11 no I'f'vo] ut ion tnkrH'

placc, hIlt Ihry nrc for. \lcl! rOl'llI~ of' rnvolui ion'l r"

v j 01 n 11 r. Cf'. Cl r (> C <'l r r i. () d 0 u I ,.d t h the d ire c t.

pnrti i prr t.; 011 of' i 1-le', 1'1a~scn. J1c never tired of'

strpc;sj nr; i ,l,clt 'onJ y ;. m'1S~ nlovrJnpn1- can be

rer;;lrdcd ns a P.'enuinc politicu.1 stru{"{;le . On.ly

in n di rcet j rn1l1eciiatc l:i Ilk 'vi i.h n mass 1.10vcr:rcnt

cun <:Jnd ~1101l1d individual terrorist act be of

vfllup' • Fro1!' 0111' oint of "ie,; thif' :i thf' only

corrrct ,'ay of posinr: (,1,(' (lllo o;-(' ioll, it bcinr, n . , humane ;'lnd clccisivo one>. nt onc nnd the same and

i'rec .from t.h(~ cruelty ]l't'ofH''t' (;0 aclverturism

(Fmph ;l s ; '"'

S\1pu.1 ied in orj~innl).

i\nrb~ssaclor

Note:

The Bnr-]i<:h InnrtlP{"C i~sl1e should norl'lnlly he- f1vailablp in flrouwl n month's time.