Date: Thu, 07 Aug 1997 17:11:11 +1000 (EST)
From: Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan-AT-qut.edu.au>
Subject: Re: M-I: Ireland update


A.>At the weekend there was speculation in the Irish Press that John Hume
>would stand as the next President of Ireland after Mary Robinson steps down
>to concentrate on international work. If so it was assumed that no one
>would stand against him, as he is said to have high stature in the south.
>What is significant is that no one has objected to this. It has just been
>observed that as a citizen of the north there is no reason why he cannot be
>president of Ireland under the consitution of the south. 
>
>This move could not have taken place so smoothly without the tacit
>acceptance of the British government. It also puts in a new light the care
>with which Gerry Adams issued a joint press statement with John Hume as
>well as a statement on his own, on the day of calling on the IRA for a new
>cease fire. Clearly Sinn Fein would not oppose it despite past bitterness
>towards Hume. While Unionists might feel uncomfortable, the office of the
>President has little formal political power. To the extent that his past
>record will make him a player in the continuing Peace Process the Unionists
>might see him as a counterbalance to Sinn Fein.  On the other hand Sinn
>Fein may see this as John Hume moving upstairs and enabling them to be
>accepted as the leading nationalist party in the north. This is all said
>now to hang on John Hume's personal decision, but the signals are
>interesting. 
>
>It raises the possibility in my mind of Gerry Adams becoming President in
>ten years time, that is after he has won the Nobel peace prize. This is
>sometimes the fate of people labelled "terrorist". Indeed that is one of
>the features of the decline of the British Empire. 
>
>Chris Burford
>
Chris 

My own feeling is that Hume will definitely go for the presidency.  His
party is on the skids in the North.  In many ways it is a one man band.
There is simply no one left of Hume's standing within the SDLP.  Apres moi
la deluge indeed.

As for Adams, you might well be right.  In ten years time he could well be
sporting the Presidency label.  In the meantime yes he is likely to be a
Nobel Peace winner.  What a terrible fate for a revolutionary.

There is a Robert Browning poem which is I suspect quite appropriate if
somewhat harsh:-

"For a handful of silver he left us
For a ribbon to hand on his coat."


regards



Gary



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