Letter
Bundle of correspondence relating to the meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council which elected Sir James Craig as Leader and successor to Sir Edward Carson and included a Letter from the Belfast Branch of the British Empire Union giving their support.
'Our Committee at a special meeting last night were of unanimous opinion that you should be requested to bring the views of our Association before the delegates of the momentous meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council today.
We understand that the leader for the Loyalists of Ulster in the new parliament is to be chosen, and while we realise that this is a matter that should only be decided by the democratically elected representatives of the Loyalist population as represented by the Council, and that no other organisation should abrogate to itself the claim to make a decision; we feel that the situation is sufficiently grave to justify us in appealing to the delegates to let no consideration however important befog the issue.
In our opinion there is only one thing that should be considered and that is the safety of our Province and Empire.
With the eyes of the Empire upon us anything that is done that will endanger our glorious Imperial unity cannot be too strongly condemned.
We understand that the selection of Lieutenant Colonel Sir James Craig, has been recommended both by our great Leader Sir Edward Carson and the Standing Committee of the Council and that the selection of Sir James is approved. We will be glad to give him our loyal support in the difficult tasks with which he will be fixed.
The Committee have also asked us to express our gratitude to the Rt Hon. Sir Edward Carson or the valuable service that he has rendered in so brilliantly maintaining the integrity of the Empire during the difficult period of the last eleven years.'
Owned by PRONI reference D1327/18/37 Images used with permission of ‘The Deputy Keeper of the Records, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland’ and ‘MAA Crawford’