August Margaret Thatcher is verbally attacked, and not for the first ume, by a number or irisn politicians. Most prominent is Jarret FitzGerald. the Southern premier. FitzGerald calls for British politicians to favour of a united Ireland. On the hunger strikers he states 'There is, among a segment of our opinion. a very billical altitude to the British government and its inflexibility' Another critic is Cardinal Tomas •'Fiaich. Recen a meeting he had with Thatcher the previous montn. 'rialch says, 'I wasn't so terribly, terribly impressed by her knowledge of Irish history, by her interpretation of events by her understanding of the present nunger-strike.
in Belfast, the Social Democratic and Labour Party says it will have no part in the political 'initiative' - a proposal to set up an advisory council in the North. SDLP leader John Hume says, 'It was ridiculous to ask the SDLP to participate when publicly he (Humphrey Atkins) has been ignoring our advice on the hunger strike issue' In London, the Sunday Times in a malor editorial. insists, "There is only one The British Catholic magazine the Tablet joins the attack on Britain's H Block policy. The journal says, 'The hunger slnike will continue, I ls plaln, until some agreement is made as to the conditions in which the IRA prisoners are held... here is no hope ot agreement without a measure of compromise. However much one may dislike the Provisional IRA and condemn one may regard the hunger strikers as allowing their delusions to lead them to the grave sin of suicide, it cannot truthfully be said there has been no measure of comtherefore must be for the government to make a gesture of conciliation which the world will recognise as such.' The Guardian calls for the sacking of Northern Ireland secretary of state, Humphrey Atkins. It disagrees with the Sunday Times but acknowledges, 'It is a sure thern Ireland independence should sudden v become so attractive. Anything to be shot of the place. National H Block/Armagh Committee, he is within 'twenty four hours of death'.
In London, the British government. in a ratner pathetic effort in the 'propaganda war', issues what it calls 'fact files' on the H Block prisoners. One on Michael Devine complains, 'he has refused to wear prison clothing since going to prison.
The 'fact file' neglects to mention that if behaved like a 'normal' prisoner he would have been due for release on parole next year. His political beliefs expriest Austin Eustace Vote CarronX Long Kesh. It is a reassertion, once again. ov nationalist neople, of our right to a future free from British interference.' Adams says that the high vote, "is the progressive voice of those who wish to see an end to discrimination and British terrorism and an end to poverty and inequality.' John Hume of the SDLP again attacks Thatcher over the hunger strikes. 'Political varialis. if not compassion, demanded that the government should act to end the prison protest', he says.