Sir, - The crux of Mr Geoff Martin's article (Opinion, December 4th) is that there has never been a peaceful and permanent solution to a boundary dispute by one nation laying claim to another nation's territory. In the case of Northern Ireland, this argument would hold true if the overwhelming majority of the people of were unionists.
The Northern statelet came into existence because Michael Collins (under threat of all-out war) was forced to sign the Treaty creating it. At that time 30 per cent of the population of the North and a majority of the people in counties Fermanagh and Tyrone were nationalist. Today nearly 45 per cent of the population and a majority of the people in counties Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry, and Armagh are nationalist.
The Republic of Ireland should alter Articles 2 and 3 of our Constitution only if a massive majority of the nationalist population of the North and their political representatives are happy with the forthcoming interim settlement.
The interim settlement might last as long as the failed and morally corrupt Stormont regime. It just might be a stepping stone to the creation of a peaceful and united 32-county Irish Republic. - Yours, etc.,
Glenbourne Grove, Leopardstown, Co Dublin.