British Plan for Ireland

This is not the time for recrimination, but when historian Norman Davies writes (Editorial Pages, Nov. 20) about “Poor Margaret Thatcher” and the British government’s “thankless task of keeping the Irish from each other,” he reiterates a point of view that lets the British off the hook for the troubles in Ireland.

It’s not just because Northern Ireland is a British creation and therefore Britain must take its share of the blame for the slaughter that occurred there, but Britain consistently ignored the problems that festered in Northern Ireland since its foundation. Indeed the Irish have been at each other, but who set them up in the first place?

What a failure, what a tragedy for everybody involved.

Any effort, whether by politicians in London and Dublin or anybody else, to bring peace to Northern Ireland should be welcomed. The most recent initiative, in particular, deserves support because it represents a courageous retrenchment from positions once held sacred by the two parties involved.

London now admits that Dublin has an intrinsic role to play in the peaceful development of the area, and Dublin has suspended its claim to rule over the whole island. As Irish Prime Minister FitzGerald said when the agreement was announced, there are no winners or losers here.

DENYS HORGAN

San Diego