Sir, The time for generosity and commonsense within the nationalist family in Northern Ireland has arrived. Unity the national interest and the desire for peace, dictate that Mr William McCrea MP and Mr Ken Maginnis MP, who represent Mid Ulster and Fermanagh South Tyrone constituencies where nationalist majorities exist, must be opposed by agreed nationalist candidates who will properly represent the views of the majority of the people.
Ambitions and local pride must bow to the national interest and pettiness and small mindness must not be allowed to obstruct progress towards strengthening the representation of the voice of the people who want peace with justice throughout all Ireland.
the time for decision making has arrived, a forthright honest flexible approach is required from Sinn Fein and the SDLP on this issue. If you cannot agree between yourselves on party candidates agree on independent candidates that all nationalist opinion can support.
The unforgivable offence the SDLP and Sinn Fein can commit is to allow Mr McCrea and Mr Ken Maginnis back to Westminster to oppose and misrepresent the main aspirations and wishes of the majority of the electorate in their constituencies that they have managed to do, since being elected. If they achieve re election the blame and the shame of it will rest where it will rightly belong with the SDLP and Sinn Fein. - Yours, etc.,
Old Road, Cashel,
Co Tipperary.