1969 State Papers (page 2)

Westminster takes control

THE Chichester-Clark government was forced to undertake ‘difficult and long drawn out negotiations’ with the British Labour government in the wake of the August disturbances of 1969, according to cabinet papers released today in Belfast.

The decision to transfer security powers to Westminster was made by the Stormont PM and his delegation without referring back to his cabinet in Belfast in conditions reminiscent of the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations of 1921.

On 20 August 1969, Major Chichester-Clark informed his cabinet that the decision to the transfer of control of the police to the British GOC was a temporary measure. The control of the security forces would revert to the Inspector-General of the RUC at the end of the present emergency.

The prime minister and the members of the cabinet deputation to London appreciated that in making this arrangement, they were going beyond their specific brief from the cabinet, but in the crisis, they considered that no other alternative was open to them.

The approval of the full cabinet for this action was sought. The cabinet approved the deputation’s action and the terms of the subsequent Downing Street communique of August 19,issued after the London conference.

However, the minister of commerce, Mr Roy Bradford, considered that the terms of the agreement should have been referred to the cabinet for approval before being announced publicly and further, that the transfer of the police to the GOC represented a fundamental shift of power to Westminster.

For his part, Attorney-General Basil Kelly asked if any discussion had taken place on the constitutional position of Northern Ireland and was assured that the matter had not been discussed, save to the extent of the reaffirmation in the published declaration.

The communique read: “In a six-hour discussion, the whole situation in Northern Ireland was reviewed. It was agreed that the GOC (Northern Ireland) will with immediate effect assume overall responsibility for security operations.
“He will continue to be responsible directly to the Minister of Defence but will work in the closest cooperation with the Northern Ireland government and the Inspector-General of the RUC.

“For all security operations, the GOC will have full control of the deployment and tasks of the RUC. The GOC will assume full command and control of the Ulster Special Constabulary.”