On This Day / October 15, 1920

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Reproduced with permission from The Irish News.

19201015

Reference Date

19201015

Publication Date

Summary: On This Day – 15th October 1920, Sir James Craig endorsed sectarian expulsions at Queen’s Island, declaring support for loyalist violence as the Ulster Parliament loomed. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix

Craig Approves Pogrom | On This Day – 15th October 1920

‘DO I approve of the action you boys have taken in the past? I say ‘Yes’.’ – Sir James Craig, Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty.

‘The time had come when Belfast Loyalists had to make a demarcation line and say they would not tolerate the presence of disloyalists in the great shipbuilding industry here.’ – Councillor John F Gordon.

The above pronouncements were made at the unfurling of a Union Jack at the Queen’s Island yesterday.

Councillor Gordon declared that it was now no longer regarded as impossible for a man to be a sound trade unionist and at the same time a member of the Labour Unionist Association.

Unionists in Londonderry shipyards had been driven out by individuals called Sinn Féiners and the men of the Belfast shipyards were then resolved that Sinn Féiners would no longer be allowed to work here. (Applause.)

Sir James Craig said it was a unique meeting when he considered how seldom a member of his Majesty’s government could get right down into the midst of the working classes.

He referred to the Chief Secretary’s announcement of a Special Constabulary, declaring that all loyal citizens should be placed in a position to protect themselves.

Ulster was to have a parliament of her own. They were going to have the right to manage their own affairs… but knowing how the Loyalists of the city had distinguished themselves in the past, he knew they would not fail in the days ahead.

In the past when any progressive movement was put forward, it was blocked by the Nationalist Party in the old days.

All that would be changed by the passage of the new [Partition] Bill and the Unionists would be able to take control of education, housing, etc…

Any man who was true to the colours would be safe under the new Ulster Parliament.

The Parliamentary Secretary for the Admiralty then said he thought it only fair that he should be asked a question, and it was, ‘Do I approve of the action you boys have taken in the past?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ (Cheers.)

[Editor’s note: As prime minister-designate of Northern Ireland, with a legal duty of care for all its citizens, James Craig’s unequivocal endorsement of the recent brutal expulsion of Catholics and Socialists from the shipyards shocked the Nationalist population.

His remarks were a precursor to his later declaration at Stormont: ‘We are a Protestant parliament and a Protestant state.’

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the Labour Unionist colleague, JF Gordon who sought to justify the sectarian expulsions, would become a Labour Minister in the new administration.

The 1919 Workers’ Strike Committee were also driven out by the mob.]

 

On This Day – 15th October 1920

Further Reading on Irish History:

List of other On This Day columns

Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive

19201015

Reference Date

19201015

Publication Date

Summary: On This Day – 15th October 1920, Sir James Craig endorsed sectarian expulsions at Queen’s Island, declaring support for loyalist violence as the Ulster Parliament loomed. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix

Craig Approves Pogrom | On This Day – 15th October 1920

‘DO I approve of the action you boys have taken in the past? I say ‘Yes’.’ – Sir James Craig, Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty.

‘The time had come when Belfast Loyalists had to make a demarcation line and say they would not tolerate the presence of disloyalists in the great shipbuilding industry here.’ – Councillor John F Gordon.

The above pronouncements were made at the unfurling of a Union Jack at the Queen’s Island yesterday.

Councillor Gordon declared that it was now no longer regarded as impossible for a man to be a sound trade unionist and at the same time a member of the Labour Unionist Association.

Unionists in Londonderry shipyards had been driven out by individuals called Sinn Féiners and the men of the Belfast shipyards were then resolved that Sinn Féiners would no longer be allowed to work here. (Applause.)

Sir James Craig said it was a unique meeting when he considered how seldom a member of his Majesty’s government could get right down into the midst of the working classes.

He referred to the Chief Secretary’s announcement of a Special Constabulary, declaring that all loyal citizens should be placed in a position to protect themselves.

Ulster was to have a parliament of her own. They were going to have the right to manage their own affairs… but knowing how the Loyalists of the city had distinguished themselves in the past, he knew they would not fail in the days ahead.

In the past when any progressive movement was put forward, it was blocked by the Nationalist Party in the old days.

All that would be changed by the passage of the new [Partition] Bill and the Unionists would be able to take control of education, housing, etc…

Any man who was true to the colours would be safe under the new Ulster Parliament.

The Parliamentary Secretary for the Admiralty then said he thought it only fair that he should be asked a question, and it was, ‘Do I approve of the action you boys have taken in the past?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ (Cheers.)

[Editor’s note: As prime minister-designate of Northern Ireland, with a legal duty of care for all its citizens, James Craig’s unequivocal endorsement of the recent brutal expulsion of Catholics and Socialists from the shipyards shocked the Nationalist population.

His remarks were a precursor to his later declaration at Stormont: ‘We are a Protestant parliament and a Protestant state.’

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the Labour Unionist colleague, JF Gordon who sought to justify the sectarian expulsions, would become a Labour Minister in the new administration.

The 1919 Workers’ Strike Committee were also driven out by the mob.]

 

On This Day – 15th October 1920

Further Reading on Irish History:

List of other On This Day columns

Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive

19201015

Reference Date

October 15, 2020

Publication Date

Summary: On This Day – 15th October 1920, Sir James Craig endorsed sectarian expulsions at Queen’s Island, declaring support for loyalist violence as the Ulster Parliament loomed. Edited by historian Dr Éamon Phoenix

Craig Approves Pogrom | On This Day – 15th October 1920

‘DO I approve of the action you boys have taken in the past? I say ‘Yes’.’ – Sir James Craig, Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty.

‘The time had come when Belfast Loyalists had to make a demarcation line and say they would not tolerate the presence of disloyalists in the great shipbuilding industry here.’ – Councillor John F Gordon.

The above pronouncements were made at the unfurling of a Union Jack at the Queen’s Island yesterday.

Councillor Gordon declared that it was now no longer regarded as impossible for a man to be a sound trade unionist and at the same time a member of the Labour Unionist Association.

Unionists in Londonderry shipyards had been driven out by individuals called Sinn Féiners and the men of the Belfast shipyards were then resolved that Sinn Féiners would no longer be allowed to work here. (Applause.)

Sir James Craig said it was a unique meeting when he considered how seldom a member of his Majesty’s government could get right down into the midst of the working classes.

He referred to the Chief Secretary’s announcement of a Special Constabulary, declaring that all loyal citizens should be placed in a position to protect themselves.

Ulster was to have a parliament of her own. They were going to have the right to manage their own affairs… but knowing how the Loyalists of the city had distinguished themselves in the past, he knew they would not fail in the days ahead.

In the past when any progressive movement was put forward, it was blocked by the Nationalist Party in the old days.

All that would be changed by the passage of the new [Partition] Bill and the Unionists would be able to take control of education, housing, etc…

Any man who was true to the colours would be safe under the new Ulster Parliament.

The Parliamentary Secretary for the Admiralty then said he thought it only fair that he should be asked a question, and it was, ‘Do I approve of the action you boys have taken in the past?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ (Cheers.)

[Editor’s note: As prime minister-designate of Northern Ireland, with a legal duty of care for all its citizens, James Craig’s unequivocal endorsement of the recent brutal expulsion of Catholics and Socialists from the shipyards shocked the Nationalist population.

His remarks were a precursor to his later declaration at Stormont: ‘We are a Protestant parliament and a Protestant state.’

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the Labour Unionist colleague, JF Gordon who sought to justify the sectarian expulsions, would become a Labour Minister in the new administration.

The 1919 Workers’ Strike Committee were also driven out by the mob.]

 

On This Day – 15th October 1920

Further Reading on Irish History:

List of other On This Day columns

Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive

On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.

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* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.