NATIONAL ARCHIVES

IRELAND

Reference Code: 2005/151/691

Title: Report by Sean Donlon, Assistant Secretary,

Department of Foreign Affairs on his

attendance at the fourth annual conference of

the SDLP [Social Democratic and Labour

Party]

Creation Date(s): 21 January 1975

Level of description: Item

Extent and medium: 7 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.

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\ a ~h· 0 .. . de t r the o poli ·ng.

fer nc l ad efo ·t a ot· n ca l i 9 f the d 0

vord pol ~ cy doc me 1 pol

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~ore · ar probl.m, n to fif. dr d ~ ·o s). do

l ad een d a e by a r y c o cons·st'ng of

and x-London . olic man Sidne C r·ney and it as ~ed

princ p e ha pol·ci.g old n be ' con · dere i ia : so · i

b ar fan o ·e a 1 polit·cal sett erne " • Tl e cnl

I oci.t. ,. pr p ~-1 n h' doc 'e 1t as

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condit · ons 1 v .. • ch ·s poss:ble. T tuc P J. ... t ·· ,.as a ·en

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c ., .L. eg f ~J fa,·· of hos i

defeat of he t b 2 0 c 3. _e 11 siz of ~he

en ng

b o t e ar f 1 - y of the 1 on-Bt.J f<J st ~, eg r, ·on and

· deed t · s er do b ·1 tl at tl e c e e · rvo 1ld 1 · ve t 1·· n place

D

the Sa ur ay o S v n tl Drrry delega es .y Der y

a 20 branc as c n ar d o .g. Be f-st's 1 I

t.., n h. y, the o c oc nt s no\ refe.x b c

0

c t• e for ons d~ ~ti n b t defea · · s li ly 0

Hume fron a ing or or ess he ame posit~on n tle

as he has a ~y ta en articul-rly as t .e ~ c i,

Derry-dominated part Exec

rab y stren h ned he hand of hose

, Fer nagh, Tyrone and ~ou h Arm g

B' the defe t h s

par ·~ul r ou sid,

v o \ ...... nt to no

at local 1 the process of identify g tl e m ·no~-· t ~

C. \• h ci ·· so

aying that bou

970.)

, reas ha.:.>

ese t I

d c p1 e ..

. . ce

I

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fo c

si n s o 9

f r ic· nor ., ]

t e fact J t t t .C. I S

o ( g. e"l ) ~ .'- i

he x e o o b a ,t- e c:o

co t a , Via 0 abl \j , .Y n et e 9

c ,

eg .L of · te

fea ~ of he l'\e 0 t J.1 ~lz of l,1

o· s ex tIe ac I. "1 a' e ening

e r t e ar a f 1 of a d

· de. t ic:: e"'y do b '1 tl at t e r'IlO d.1 ve plac

the a ur ay 0 S da w ~n Or r 'y elega es c e y

a 2 ranc as C Il ar to .9. Be -st's 1 n

n h. c niea lV, -h o c QC n 5 no\ refer);; de

'0 for ons dE. uti n b t . h. defca o

in J u e fro a ing or or ess he ame 0 ition n tl.e

.c as he has a en as he

DerrY-dominated part Exec t

ab y str n.th ned le hand of hoce par ·.cul

D n gh. Tyrone and ~ou h rm 9

at oca the process of iden ify -1 e J • nox-itY'

c. A h ci • so (; reas ha;;, ad

S' I ce 1971. (The Cl: ef' Co

aying' at

910. )

u ala of th s • •

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-----~ -- -

1 t e

0 of mo ··o s i uti

Ir 1 n ' COlt n 1

ne was t k n 1 rou T ere vas o e o s su or

fo ot· n ro h rt B ·dst bra c s or.e ca - ed

a 0 ce p ·o t ~e ·it th ese t s · u io

t ei no p oc \wet f c nt ·_1 mor

0 ocal nd "\ ss or dime s 1 ' .

1 e s J • le o x r i ot.' on \" o

.) v consider le sup OI DLP rs n g ter e f ·~

t · 1nl b ri a el r · do se b () g

d t ··r ey ,, no. fe 1 tl t can

a r.e-el c' i_on anr' pr neg

~ .d . .y i ao ·nr.' dett t eve ' f e le ronfere ce

forc ... a a e a .t g. l"n on t p Ir"sl m ns·a ·ha! h ...

ha ~ done. An Se e D

·11 r o Ar .a a o t +

t · L e 1- i \i F • t t on l ~- c. e s j e c t , . l.:.r 9

they had int · r · ewed I .a len. T' y put s me of I. · llou' s views to

w: t o t id · nt · yi1 :-.- t em an , not .e 'pectcr:i r got . i~ ._Q

o trad·ct them . ..his c~use r~·s.ment oF tt

'10 then used t .e conf r n,.. t..O try to . store he b, a net:. I·~

al~o fore d tepa t leaders ~o c ose ranl son tle subject v

more th· n tl e miglLt o hervvise L- ve done - nd the •m . stat ~m .... nt

·h t 'tlere c:"'C no 'if ereJc .. ~ Jn tepa yon th:s and to sugges

th ~ th I · -h d" e1 si bar an g counter d 1 ens 01r

OS. t. Ol ' • S \ alil"E y to .1.. r-lG CA. the re 1 posi io • Assem 1 m n

To1 Donne '

t e a hor of t e otion p· t do vn l y tl e Nortl

B fast br~nch, made a c · eftl y though out ·nt r entio 1 ~ich

probsbl'' r. f cts t.he .ew of m ny SDLP support rs in and ound

Belfast . h · 1 a c c p· n t t ' ere ct be ar nership

1 orth a d So thn he emphc.s ·sed ~h t the Hf tur success of

artne hi w uld t t

nd h~ ere t' no :

depend on the 5 1 cc ss rf ower ~h- . g

real I ~sh dime sio in I art ~rn I~e nd'.

ll

t

- - -- - ~~ - -

o f re c a o tl t

o of o 0 i n

nd

.... ,~.~-.-...,. .. , 1 n wa 5 T (;re vas 0 o , . p r

fo 11 r i-ast bra c .' ich s c e

· 0 r cc pot re th se s · 'U

o Dcal C 4 01 't e din e

Tt 5 o h 5 A r-ssed i ot ' on

con i der le 01 among DLP po . er s t r e f s'

t 1 b r · at l ' ndorse ' , do no fe 1 tl t

r -e l c.tton 'n ti

1 m 0 10. j ne; · del t e l, } co f er Cc

• -t' '. a ea st ge

Se e 0 ' s t. a

a 0 t th Id th "?nt on

I t j i on E c: -• 0 e s jec , 1 .: 9 t

1\'

contrad· ct

1 ey ha rv · ewe d I.a 1 en. They p t o l' S v: ws to

t em a n t not ne xp et ri' ~r t got . i wO

11-5 C se e o F tt

\ 1 10 then u ed tl.e c nf ren('- loO try to res ore h b] anCl;. It

a :-0 f re d t e .t e ders ~o C ose ran} s on th subject v n

nor th - n tI e migl,t o ' herwist h-ve done and t e m , st tem ... nt

t a t ftlere c: ' C n 'if renc;').n t e p "r y on thi and to sugges

th t t ba a·n "ng count dIe ' ns r

osi tion r • S \ .lil' 1 y to L f1 ':' c~ the re 1 posi io. Assemi 1 m n

To Donne , tea }or of tIe tion p·t do~n )y tIe No tt

de a cCireftl ' y thou']h 0 t inter entio ~hich

prob bly r f cts the vi wc of m ny SOL suppor' rs in and ou d

B lfast . h · le ace p' · n.. t t tit er... ust be ar nership ~ tv

r had So ~ n he emph, .. s ·"sed I h t the "f tur success of ha+

artne 1 i w uld t de n on t e I cc ss

nd he , e t- n f real I "sh dim nsior in 1 art ern I~el nd i

r ----- - ~- - --· -· ---- ~---

n 0 i r f en 0 t e mor ox p s

er f d f negot· t . f at r g c ,

d b it 1 i n . Don 11 ' n pr J

n d s i ori y 0 vi t 1in the SDLP b t e f c1C.a.

f . e· re 0 1 ot ho e changing f . e p r

but s ound to re som infl c n the f r, at ion of p lie . fo mal st ce po on f he coLP n h Irish

men .. ion th t · t ~ com1 ~ tte in t n i c::t~tu .... on 1

ex n of the men :on as a pr eq i e to partici 0

~0 nm t ;~n :t( d tl (:., .on. of t d .. ba -tl at the 1 ~a rshi enerous rg . n eed .

n a ver r

. erpret'ng this A stin Curri po.i..nt d out tlat t l on. oug

t' e I is d · ensi n .;~ s a ' -l nda ent l real· t r n, it ~ ould

to c in to a Council of Ireland as t only institution w ic

could reflect it. He was· l~o, incide tally, tle only c e ker w o

att ntion tote fact t _t circum tanc shad already f ' rc d

t e SDLP to change its position ·n a Cou cil of Ir land in th

last days of the power-shar~ng Executi e. In n inter ~ i

contribution Eddie ;~cGrady who commands consider, ble res ct and

u port w'thiz the arty went so.e ay to ards om Donnelly•s

position wten, after saying thdt an Irish dimension was a

prerequisite to the SDLP's enterin~ government in Northern Ireland,

e explained that "the Irish dimension means different things to

different people. It c n mean he simple wish to have one's

children taught the geography and history of their nativ land -

hich they are not; to learn to sinJ the songs and dance the dane .s

of their Irish inheritance" . H~ h·.-\ earlier articulated the views

of some of those at the Conference when he said that "a sad thing

is that the true custodians of the Irish dimension is the political

inority f the North dnd not to their shame, the citiz nry of t. e

Republic of Ireland". (Others hdd expr ssed similar vie ·s i

giving the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs "mixed reception"

while 1 · others had, in th early hours of S nu y ruor 1 in( ,

_t

o r fe ence t or rtl ox p s o

ter he f tie d 09 of negot ° t g' ro c

d P .;ofn o on . Don 11

n °nor ... ty 0 t e fc .. c

o 1 ot n1

n the SDLP b

ch 9 re f · r '

but bound to a re infl ne n th f rm tion 0 polic·.

st c p i ·0 of h cDLP n th rish

th .! corn : te n p ~ncip

expr s n of the 1 n ion s a pre q. s e 0 part·c · o n

~o .. l.( d t t (. · one of t . d .. a _ . ca s s ,J -'

tlat the lea rs . aver r enero S drg

ilterpr~ -n9 tiis po~ ion. A stin C rr oi t out tl . tt oug

t' e Iris dO lensi n "Cs 5 a ' l da en 1 real ' ty n t it \J~ould

to C if to Council of Irel od as t only inst·tution

could reflect it. He was lLo, inci(ent lly. tle only c 'J 0

att nti n to tie fact tl:t circum tanc c hod · lre dy f're d

t SDLP to change its posit'on on a CaUl eil of Ir land 1n th

last days of the p ~er-slarOng Executi e. In n inter . i

contribution Eddie HcGrady who cOIl'lffiands consider,ble resp et and

u port w:thil the drty went some ay towards om Donne!ly·s

position when, after saying thdt an Irish dimension v s a

prerequisite to the SDLp·s enterin~ government in orthern Ireland,

expla ned that "the Irish di ension means different th~ngs to

different people. It c n mean he simple wish to have one's

children taught the geography and history of th ir n tivn land -

hich they are not; to learn to sin) the songs and dance the danc.s

of their Ir·sh inheritance". H~ h ".-t earlier articulated the views

of some of those at the Conference l~n he said th t "a sad thing

15 that the true custodians of the Irish dimension is the politic 1

inority of the North and not, to their shame, the citizenry of t. e

Republic of Ireland". (Others hdd expr ssed ~imilar vie '5 i

giving the Minister for Posts and Telegr phs "mixed reception"

while ye' others had. in th e rly hours of Su Ocly Uloruilg,

h g t f

·.ts rth c.t So ·t t t

5. e f X e ro a c r ' 0

f t . ..,eog a ca nc i tl e SDL 0 of

fficers and f tl f·fteen t r ex

f "0 r se 01 e e

.. s 0 h rs e c·e r y l"

on ay r a he v · ,h s ' tl s

ef at u~ c nf_renc t 0 g 0

'J.ti e r ac s st.i m on • ....err· F _,~

c nt n e · ·· te a g ly · d p 1 ent1 of rty. sho• 1

ho er, be ot d t .·+ at' d of e en x cu i· e

01 p ri on it u of

st e· ... an i a I ·n · elidbly ·nfor. h t he r

coJa let d the ec s. ry for :es to b COle for the fr ct t m_

er of a branch d her t- r er n go t ndi1 of the

SDLP . T e Hu e/Devlin xis ~ still wor· ng' r smoot 1 a

this combined ith their r r ond long st ding fr"en ·~ i

\ it I C · d 0' H 1 · to ens r e ·' l at 1 rr~e a ·n on ~s no g n tie

four are likely t retain thc"r fir gr"p en olicy rn ·te.· .. r •,_

com ng y r •. The D lin/Coop.r lin s ~ e· ene cons· a r- bl y i1

the last year with the ~s lt that Cooper's pos·tion and ~nf!ue c

is now ini al . Of the n w r political generation Edd·e c radr,

Paddy D ffy, Seamus 11iallon nd Denis l ug e al ave .h ·

supporters and the. r o vn pcsttions on rtic l·r issuec'but it

cannot be said that they offer any serio s challenge to t e

traditional leaders.

6 . Another interesting s: ,_'·~li __ ht on the 97 ... SDLP is th · it is

now a sol.dly mir le cl .. •" ··J i e co .. ldr p r', • The '~ ut·ve

at least six teachers, an ,n ineer, a solic"tor, a p r cis n

an acco ntant. I a ro gh an ysis f he coLP offi e h l r

f

f h

·.ts I artl do' t ~ t

:J e f x e r r

f t a . cal a] nee tie 0 1 of 9 . , ..,

fficer c t ex r .L

If t e

• I ion r h

0 a s 5

f a il", t 0 C ri 1

,it.l e 5 st: 1 on r F· .I

~ n ly ent of rty sl 0'1

be t t' d x 0 0 en " cu i' e r..

C ~ 5 omp ri "t ut of

i ly . h t 1 e tl a r

COla t t.e fo t COl e 0 th' m

e f a r n h he a go f .h

SD-.-P. e I u . s :; s sti 'or'" smoot , x

tt . 5 com n wi he'- r "p et f r c:~na ~ ong n

\,. t I C e a d 0 nlon "s to ens r " e .. 0

fe a e . 'ely t T_ta . le ~ c r

com·.ng y 1" • e 0 1':' ICo D.r 1in' 5 ~ 'e'r 1 e e if

he lact w' th it. It . t at Coo er'~ po ~ ,. . 0 and "nf 1 ear rf~s ...

5 0 Cl 1 . Of po itic· 9 ner . ion Edd· c .... rad'

Padd Dll fy, Se ,

e ] t r ve J.h m s .a

CUP) r el S and the. om os:. :ons ssue . 1) .. It l.

cannot be sai t tl off r any r s .1 - J le e to " , . ra . " ana 1 ad s.

6 . Anot n eI 0 SD is t t ..

o· S .. C" n I I ..;J

n 'J a l "dl co 1 c

at 1 ix t . c'tor ac e . , ar a p

an ace ntan T - s f 3. ""D P off: • ...

A 1 s

d

c e

Ed c c . ) D t

of co r y s

r a t• 0. c t .E.

G nl,

co e L r r ~ nt ast

c t · t~ enc ;) br c ~ ·nd r. ag./ .0 1 P.

7. On e 1 al e t 0 ) f . It #pa t .. b

0 J e e b nc ~

s cc "' 0!."' h b ke· c

g: en .tc f b e

J ~Ja i .. atJ. n -:t·· on .. xpen ·he

h a t no·t co p " nu to lU t f 11 •

c f f s v a l.rge n hou s its h~·d an

a ses 0 ly fe "'hous rn T.c l nd. .&.. ..,

ge. } eJ.p f 0 the b t ... k of •ts :.nc

i- sti 1 9~ e at d >' i' ... t gro ... 1 d y

Dr. l'cl y of t} af! U D En ... .

1 eer . 9 Sc!io 0

r..J

I { I l

A a d

e

c

Bd c Ac ) 9 • n

t DL

t of s co

t·

t

co e

C t st · n'" ;.:a bra c 5 nd lA a •

7. 0 e Jo r f. , t pa t"l j 1

o J b ac d

hO J .' b ~ro ~dc

GO f , an

org ne .. xpens.s the

art to " t f 11 "'- •

of s v 0 s its uar er n

ly fe J hou rn Tr~ .A-

ge ;:>o.e , t e b It k of "t :.nc I

is st~ 1 9 at d ,>' it~ Lu gro ) 1 d Y

r. ohn I'el y 0 thF~ U En, .. .

1 eeri clool.

( I

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