Sir, - We read with incredulity that Hillary Clinton is to come to Galway on May 12th to be given the Freedom of the City and to inaugurate the university's series of millennial lectures with a contribution entitled "Our obligations to each other - continuing the quest for peace". This is a most inappropriate time for the US First Lady to be honoured in an Irish city. The American quest for peace today takes the shape of relentless war.
Cedric Thornberry, former UN assistant secretary general, warned last week that NATO waging war without UN endorsement is "a grave setback to the rule of law", and that "the United States may be using its NATO role for reasons of domestic politics". Article 29 of the Irish constitution affirms "international justice and morality", "pacific settlement of international disputes", and the "generally recognised principles of international law." Under the leadership of the United States and President Clinton, NATO is in breach of these requirements.
For Mrs Clinton to formally offer us her particular slant on "peace" could be interpreted as an external interference in our forthcoming European elections, in which the Taoiseach wants a vote of confidence for his intent to join the NATO-orientated PfP. (The Taoiseach himself forfeited the trust of the people when he promised a referendum on the PfP issue and then went back on his word.)
Press reports of the university's invitation to Mrs Clinton refer to the "Galway college's prominent reputation in human rights research." Let us not forget that the United States has consistently refused to sign the UN Convention of Human Rights, in spite of international organisations such as Amnesty continually begging it to do so.
Mr Clinton is not an elected representative, nor a Nobel prize winner, nor was she even a successful lobbyist with her healthcare scheme. She is at the moment toying with the notion of running for New York senatorial office; and she is only one point ahead of the incumbent. Why should the Mayor of Galway assist her electoral chances by giving her the Freedom of the City? And why should the university endorse her as an authority on "peace"?
We ask everyone who shares our disquiet to write to the Mayor of Galway, the Assistant Town Clerk, and the President of NUI Galway, asking for Mrs Clinton's invitation to be withdrawn until a more suitable time; and to spread the word among their friends, relatives and visitors to save the good name of Galway and the honourable reputation of Ireland in international affairs. - Yours, etc., John Arden and Margaretta D' Arcy,
St Bridget's Place Lower, Galway.