After the introduction of internment in 1971, the Stormont government's official advisory committee on government relations with the Catholic community underlined the need for Brian Faulkner's government to decide whether or not it was "at war" with the nationalist population.
The issue was raised at a meeting at Stormont Castle on December 4th, 1971, attended by five senior civil servants under the chairmanship of Dr John Oliver.
On the question of "minority recognition and representation" the minutes record the discussion: "The government needs to decide upon its basic philosophy in relation to the minority. Did it consider itself at war with the minority or did it believe in treating it fairly, firmly and openly? At present, the government's attitude was not clear."
This, the officials noted, was reflected in the government's attitude towards minority representation on public boards and the cabinet's reluctance to accept nominations from the opposition.
"If the government did desire to improve its relationship with the minority, new initiatives were undoubtedly required. It had to be recognised that in the final analysis the government did not rule with the consent of all.
"Accordingly, unless new lines of communication could be built up within a constitutional framework to allow the minority greater participation in government, frustration might lead to more extreme minority leadership and a possible renewal of street activity with inevitable consequences for the future stability of Northern Ireland and the present constitutional arrangements."
The meeting felt that if the new initiative were to be taken, it would be best directed towards the elected parliamentary representatives of the minority rather than Cardinal Conway or organisations such as the Central Citizens Defence Committee.
"If communications with opposition MPs were to be improved, it must be recognised that the nature of the opposition had changed and that its objective was not simply the overthrow of the Northern Ireland government."
This would require, for example, a different attitude by the government towards constructive opposition amendments and possibly advance consultation by ministers with opposition MPs on new bills and policies.
An accompanying confidential paper, entitled Government Policy on the Minority, argued that by endorsing the Reform Programme of 1969 the government suggested that it wished to treat the minority fairly "as an integral part of the Northern Ireland community".
It went on to propose an invitation to the SDLP to accept the position of official opposition and the establishment of a system of select committees to increase opposition participation in the formulation of policy.
Significantly, however, a proposal for an "opposition minister", in the administration was scored out in the draft report on file.
Meanwhile, Mr Faulkner told colleagues at a cabinet meeting in September 1971 that the Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, had effectively recognised the existence of Northern Ireland for the first time.
Responding to Mr Faulkner's report on the recent tripartite talks at Chequers on September 28th, ministers noted that the talks had served little useful purpose. They welcomed the stance which Mr Faulkner had adopted towards the prime ministers of the UK and the Republic. Of particular satisfaction was the recognition by Mr Lynch, through his participation in the meeting and involvement in the agreed statement afterwards, of the Northern Ireland premier's status.
Dr Eamon Phoenix is a lecturer in history at Stranmillis University College and a broadcaster