Sir, - You reported the Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble's address to his annual conference (October 27th) in which he referred to a speech made by me in 1974, yes, 1974.
In many respects, Mr Trimble's speech was worthy of the commendation given to it by you in your editorial. However, Mr Trimble missed the point of my speech (made not in 1974 but in November 1973). The line misquoted by him was immediately followed in my speech by "the speed that vehicle moves at depends on the Unionist community". Thus it was evident, even in 1973, that consent lay at the core of my thinking and indeed at the heart of SDLP policy since that party's foundation. It was designed to explain to a Southern audience the balance which I believe was contained in the Sunningdale agreement. The passage of time has made that balance even more essential, and so it is enshrined in the Downing Street Declaration and the Framework Document.
When the speech was raised in the Northern Ireland Assembly on December 14th, 1973, by Unionist Assembly member Mr Laird, and explained by me as "a united Ireland but by consent of the people of the North of Ireland," Mr Laird had the good grace to respond "I should like to thank Assembly member Logue for clearing up his quotation" (Official Report NI Assembly Vol 1, July 31st, 1973, to December 19th, 1973). - Yours, etc.,
Brussels.