Sir, Although Ian Paisley seems to have been identified as the source doing the "winding up" in the case of the fantastic allegation of a liaison between Senator George Mitchell's colleague, Martha Pope, and Sinn Fein member Gerry Kelly, there have now been a number of statements written in what used to be called the Tory press, or issuing from British sources, that are reminiscent of the bad old days of Ml5 working to its own agenda, as well as against the interests of a Labour Government.
Clockwork Orange it perhaps (Mary Holland, December 12th). An example is a recent editorial in the Times which not only sought to undermine Labour's experienced Northern Ireland spokesperson, Mo Mowlam, but also invited Tony Blair to plunge into the abyss and pursue a military defeat of the IRA.
The irresponsibility of sections of the British Establishment and security services, toying with the idea of breaking with the joint approach with the Dublin Government and the SDLP and eschewing compromise to "take on" the republican movement, cannot be emphasised enough. It would elicit the resumption of a full scale republican campaign, followed by the inevitable loyalist campaign in the Republic. This could destabilise the Republic, leading to the radicalisation of increased numbers of Irish people both in the US and in Britain.
The US does not need this, Ireland does not need this, Britain does not need it. All of it is unnecessary and avoidable, if the post election British Government adheres to the joint approach and to the spirit of the last joint communique. To paraphrase for a post election British government the caution to those involved in the Kelly for Pope story Don't trust MI5, or those voices telling you that the republican movement can now be defeated. That's what they said in the 1970s Yours etc.,
Formerly secretary of the Campaign for the Birmingham Six (England), Montague Road, Birmingham, B21 9DF.