asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made a protest about the statement by Lord Arran that appeared in a London evening paper on 29th May, 1974.
51.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - British Peer's Statement.
50.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a newspaper article (details supplied) which dealt with the recent statement by Lord Arran; and if he will seek the same form of apology from the British Government for this statement as was given following Lord Arran's insult to the late President Kennedy.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together.
Our views on the statements by Lord Arran have been made known to the editor of the newspaper in which they appear. No further action in regard to this matter is felt necessary.
Would the Minister care to give the context of the views given to the newspaper?
There is no such text. The Press Councillor of the Embassy in London protested by telephone to the managing director of the London Evening News pointing out that Lord Arran's comments were extremely irresponsible at this sensitive time. Subsequently an article on the embassy's reaction to the article was published by the newspaper and an editorial subsequently appeared which opposed Lord Arran's viewpoint but pleaded that all viewpoints had a right to publicity.
Were any views conveyed to the British Government?
Why not?
For the reason that to make inter-governmental communications about an article of this kind would be unduly to magnify the importance of one silly and scurrilous columnist and I am satisfied that the action taken was the appropriate one.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.