MARCHERS WITH PLACARDS; MISS BERNADETTE DEVLIN TAKING PART IN MARCH AND ADDRESSING MEETING.




Initials PM/VS/JH/ES



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Background: A SIX WEEKS "TRUCE" SINCE THE NORTHERN IRELAND CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP CAME TO AN END SATURDAY (28 JUNE) WHEN 3,000 MARCHERS IN THE TOWN OF STRABANE PROTESTED AGAINST THE FAILURE OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE REFORMS. THE DEMONSTRATION PASSED OFF WITHOUT INCIDENT.

TWO EARLIER ATTEMPTS TO HOLD THE MARCH WERE CALLED OFF BECAUSE OF THREATS BY THE REV. IAN PAISLEY'S PROTESTANT EXTREMISTS TO STAGE A COUNTER-DEMONSTRATION. CLASHES BETWEEN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT (SUPPORTED BY ROMAN CATHOLICS AND MODERATE PROTESTANTS) AND THE MILITANT PAISLEYITES BROUGHT VIOLENCE TO NORTHERN IRELAND EARLIER THIS YEAR.

MISS BERNADETTE DEVLIN, WHO TOOK PART IN THE MARCH, WAS ELECTED TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT ON A CIVIL RIGHTS PLATFORM AT A BY-ELECTION IN APRIL. AT 21, SHE BECAME BRITAIN'S YOUNGEST-EVER MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.

AT THE MEETING WHICH FOLLOWED THE MARCH, MISS DEVLIN APPEALED FOR AN END TO THE "PERSONALITY CULT" IN THE COUNTRY AND A RETURN TO THE STRUGGLE FOR THE POOR PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND.

ON MAY 1ST, MAJOR JAMES CHICHESTER-CLARK SUCCEEDED CAPTAIN TERENCE O'NEILL AS PRIME MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND, AND IMMEDIATELY PROMISED REFORMS INCLUDING "ONE MAN, ONE VOTE" IN LOCAL ELECTIONS. THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT ISSUED AN ULTIMATUM TO MAJOR CHICHESTER-CLARK'S GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE A TIMETABLE FOR THE REFORMS. THIS ULTIMATUM HAS HOW EXPIRED WITHOUT A REPLY, LEADING TO THE RESUMPTION OF DEMONSTRATIONS.