[Shasown]

Originally Posted by setanta

Britain didn't do much to defuse the situation initially. They made all the wrong moves, all the time.

Plus they wouldn't have listened to the Nationalists if they weren't willing to highlight what they were capable of, you know?

On the first line I am in almost total agreement with you on that.

On the second, they did listen to the Nationalists, but because of Stormont being in existance at the time, the actual British Government's hands were tied, thats what most people dont get. Northern Ireland at the time technically was a dominion, it was to all intents and purposes self ruling.

There wasnt really a lot they could do. It would completely undermine the National Assembly and in some cases it would have been an internationally illegal act to interfere directly.

Consequently, they had to find occassion to find fault with the actions of Stormont in order to dissolve it. Certain Nationalist groups werent prepared to wait, certain unionist factions werent going to listen anyways.

Then when action could be taken we were well embroiled in the Troubles. in the early to mid 70's power was going to devolve back to stormont under the sunningdale but comments were made in Dublin that upset the unionists and they prevented it. McGuinness and others were in negotiations with Whitelaw.

Then mid to late 70's there were negotiations going on while there was civil war basically. Late 70's maggie wanted cessation of terrorist activities and disarmament on both sides.