DEEP resentment in Derry at the decision in 1965 not to locate the North's second university in the city is recorded in cabinet papers just released in Belfast. Following the decision of the Lockwood Committee, a group of Derry businessmen sponsored a petition to the Northern Ireland government on local feeling.
It began "We, being representatives of the people of west Ulster, pray that the government will take due cognizance of the widespread feeling of disapproval at the decision of the government [to place the new university otherwise than in or adjacent to the city of Londonderry."
The petitioners demanded that the government should reconsider its decision to site the campus on Coleraine and called for a public inquiry into the location of the university and the lack of industrial development in the north west.
On June 9th, 1965, Mr Raymund Wolseley, a Derry businessman, asked the attorney general and local MP, Mr E W Jones, to arrange a meeting between a local deputation and Capt O'Neill to deliver the petition and discuss the issue.
In a letter to Capt O'Neill, Mr Jones said the prime minister should see the deputation as the petition had "been so widely signed". However, he strongly recommended that no inquiry should be granted. His local unionist association in the city had refused to endorse the petition.
The Derry deputation met the [prime minister, the Minister of Commerce, Mr Brian Faulkner, and two other ministers at Stormont on June 22nd, 1965. The deputation was led by Mr Claud Wilton, a Derry solicitor and member of the Northern Ireland Liberal Party.
He told the ministers the deputation was composed of business and professional people who were concerned about recent allegations that "nameless, faceless men" from Derry had influenced the government against locating the new university and industrial developments in the city.
The petition calling for a judicial inquiry into these allegations had been signed by over 15,000 citizens of all classes and creeds, including six Protestant clergymen.
The spokesman added that Londonderry was the second town in Northern Ireland and had suffered a number of serious blows recently, including the closure of one of its railway lines and a threat to the local submarine base.
The university had been sited elsewhere and the city's claims for equal industrial development had been neglected. He realised the government could not direct firms to the area but, in the case of the new university, the administration had full control over the decision.
Derry had clear initial advantages, including the existence of the Magee Foundation with available buildings, suitable sites and a population united in support of the project. Yet all of this had been ignored for reasons which had not been fully explained.
The Lockwood Committee had made an incomprehensible reference to "political considerations" which had been taken to refer to the position in Londonderry. Recent allegations had embittered the community atmosphere and it was essential that a public inquiry should be held to clear the air.
Mr Wilton was supported by Mr C.P. Austin, a local businessman, who feared that "harmful influences were at work to undermine the position of the city" and the people were not convinced that their public representatives were free from blame.
As a staunch unionist himself, he felt it necessary, in the interests of the party, that a judicial inquiry should take place. At least 5,000 unionists had signed the petition.
Responding, the Minister of Commerce, Mr Faulkner, denied that Derry had been either neglected or overlooked for new industry. Unemployment in the city was high but would have been very much worse had it not been for government sponsored developments. He instanced the Coolkeeragh power station and Du Pont. Large numbers of industrialists had inspected Derry but very few had been interested.
The prime minister stressed that the policy of the government was to promote the economic and social development of Derry and made it clear that neither he nor the government would, in any circumstances, have allowed themselves to be influenced by any representations opposed to such development He saw no point in a public inquiry.
Mr Wolseley said the government had evidently decided to refuse an inquiry before hearing the deputation's case.