CALLAGHAN AND YOUNG LEAVE GUILDHALL; VISITING BOGSIDE; CALLAGHAN AND YOUNG IN PROTESTANT AREA. (NATURAL SOUND)




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Background: BRITISH HOME SECRETARY JAMES CALLAGHAN TODAY (SATURDAY) VISITED BOTH THE CATHOLIC AND THE PROTESTANT AREAS OF LONDONDERRY ACCOMPANIED BY THE NEW INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE ROYAL ULSTER CONSTABULARY, SIR ARTHUR YOUNG. THEIR RECEPTION WAS ENTHUSIASTIC IN CATHOLIC BOGSIDE -- BUT NOT SO WELCOMING IN THE PROTESTANT AREA.

IN BOGSIDE, CHEERING CROWDS GREETED HIM WITH "YOU'RE A GOOD LAD, JIM" AND OTHER AFFECTIONATE CRIES. THIS REACTION HAS BEEN PRIMARILY BROUGHT ON BY YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE HOME SECRETARY THAT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HUNT REPORT, THE OLD-LINE ROYAL ULSTER CONSTABULARY (RUC) "B-SPECIALS" WOULD HAND IN THEIR REVOLVERS AND BE DISBANDED. THE APPOINTMENT OF SIR ARTHUR YOUNG, FORMER COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF LONDON POLICE, TO TAKE OVER THE RUC IS ALSO PART OF THE NEW PLAN. HE IS THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE RUC TO ENTER BOGSIDE IN TWO MONTHS -- AND HE LATER SAID THAT HIS MEN WOULD SHORTLY BE RETURNING TO THE AREA, BUT AS UNARMED CONSTABLES.

BUT THE REASONS FOR A CHEERFUL BOGSIDE WERE THE SAME ONES THAT HAVE BROUGHT OUT THE ANGER OF PROTESTANTS. THE PROTESTANT MILITANT FEEL THAT THE DISBANDING OF THE "B-SPECIALS" IS A CONCESSION TO THE CATHOLIC MINORITY. CRIES OF "B SPECIALS IN -- ENGLISH OUT"; AND "CALLAGHAN GO HOME" GREETED THE HOME SECRETARY AND SIR ARTHUR AS HOSTILE CROWDS MILLED AROUND THE STREETS.

LATER THIS EVENING, FURTHER VIOLENCE ERUPTED IN BELFAST AS A PROTESTANT DEMONSTRATION ADVANCED AGAINST CATHOLIC HOMES -- AND ONE POLICEMAN WAS REPORTED KILLED AND ANOTHER INJURED, AS WERE TWO SOLDIERS. STREET FIGHTING AND SHOOTING WAS STILL REPORTED AT MIDNIGHT.