1 COPY ORION, BIRCHINGTON Labour cottages obair APL. 21. 19. My Dear Bates, As I will not be present on Wednesday at the Standing
Committee owing to an important engagement in London I desire to
make one or two observations for the consideration of the Committee. 1. I should like to draw the earnest attention of the whole
Province to the necessity of placing our organisations on a thoroughly
democratic basis. It is essential that in the future we should avoid
all friction amongst those who deem the maintenance of the Union as of
paramount importance for the prosperity and happiness of the Province.
Complete unity can only be secured by taking care that all classes
and all views are thoroughly represented in our local organisations
and that opportunities are taken to keep in touch with the feelings
and requirements of the people. The outcome of the war must lead to
a great progression of democratic forces and ideals and this we must
encourage and make effective by a complete understanding of the wants
of the people. It is by unity alone that we can expect to maintain
our position in the councils of the State and enforce our policy of
obtaining for Ulster all that is thought essential for the democracies
of Great Britain. I venture therefore to express the hope that this
matter may have the serious attention of the Committee and that steps 2 -2-

may be taken which will prove effective in the direction I have
indicated. 2. No observer of the general unrest throughout the world
can fail to realise that advantage is being taken of it under
various pretexts to further the political aims and ambitions of cer-
tain sections of the community for their own ends, and I have no
doubt that our separatist opponents are working diligently both here
and in America with a view to harnassing to their cause various
elements of unrest in order to influence public opinion at home and
abroad in favour of the policy of what is called an Independent
Ireland. I have had numerous letters from America pointing out how
active our opponents are in that country in the Press and on the
Platform in trying by the grossest misrepresentation to bring about
an ante-English feeling in relation to Ireland. I am convinced that the time has come when we should
establish an active propaganda department by which the true facts as
regards Ireland and especially as regards Ulster should be made
known. We must recollect that after nearly five years a great deal
of our Educational work has been forgotten and with a new and enlarged
Electorate and a new Parliament the work must now be restarted and
continued if our case is to be properly understood. Whether this work should be carried out under the Ulster
Council or jointly with the Unionist Alliance is a matter that
should be seriously considered. 3 -3- 3. Finally I would like to point out that we should not
shut our eyes to the serious condition of affairs existing in the
South and West of Ireland. The open avowal of the leader of the
majority of the Irish people that their policy is the establishment
of a Republic in Ireland and his undisguised threat to Ulster in
the event of Ulster's refusal to abandon her loyalty to the King
and her citizenship in the British Empire must bring home to each
of us the necessity of being prepared for all eventualities. I have
myself but little trust in politicians or political parties in
relation to Ireland, and I say once more as I said at Craigavon
when I was/elected Leader of loyal Ulster that in the last ersort it
will be found that we must rely upon ourselves. This I believe we
are prepared to do. Yours sincerely, (Signed) EDWARD CARSON