In October 1972 Britain’s Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, William Whitelaw, released a green paper (discussion paper) on the troubled region. Titled “The Future of Northern Ireland”, it outlined the historical background and issues plaguing the Six Counties, then suggested possible steps towards a peace settlement and power-sharing government:

“There are widely differing views about the desirable functions, powers and form of a [Northern Ireland] assembly or authority, and its precise relationship with the… United Kingdom. At the one extreme, the argument is for a substantial form of regional authority. At the other, for a Parliament which would not only have the existing powers of the Northern Ireland Parliament but would be in a position to exercise them more freely. In the view of Her Majesty’s Government, any firm proposals must meet the following criteria:

a. In accordance with the specific pledges given by successive United Kingdom Governments, Northern Ireland must and will remain part of the United Kingdom for as long as that is the wish of a majority of the people…

b. As long as Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom the sovereignty of the United Kingdom Parliament must be acknowledged, and due provision made for the United Kingdom Government to have an effective and continuing voice in Northern Ireland’s affairs…

c. Any division of powers and responsibilities between the national and the regional authorities must be logical, open and clearly understood. Ambiguity in the relationship is a prescription for confusion and misunderstanding…

d. The two primary purposes of any new institutions must be first to seek a much wider consensus than has hitherto existed; and second to be such as will work efficiently and will be capable of providing the concrete results of good government: peace and order, physical development, social and economic progress. This is fundamental because Northern Ireland’s problems flow not just from a clash of national aspirations or from friction between the communities, but also from social and economic conditions such as inadequate housing and unemployment…

f. A Northern Ireland assembly or authority must be capable of involving all its members constructively, in ways which satisfy them and those they represent, that the whole community has a part to play in the government of the Province. As a minimum this would involve assuring minority groups of an effective voice and a real influence; but there are strong arguments that the objective of real participation should be achieved by giving minority interests a share in the exercise of executive power if this can be achieved by means which are not unduly complex or artificial…

g. There must be an assurance, built into any new structures, that there will be absolute fairness and equality of opportunity for all. The future administration of Northern Ireland must be seen to be completely even handed both in law and in fact.

h. It is of great importance that future arrangements for security and public order in Northern Ireland must command public confidence, both in Northern Ireland itself and in the United Kingdom as a whole. If they are to do so they must be seen in practice to be as impartial and effective as possible in restoring and maintaining peace and public order.

Whatever the constitutional arrangements may be, many difficult practical problems will remain. There is not least the great need to rid Northern Ireland of the presence and threat of violence. Both political theory and practical experience show that no scheme of government, however carefully drawn, can do more than present an opportunity for progress. It is in the hearts and minds of the people of Northern Ireland, and not just in the aims of Government or the words of Acts of Parliament, that the capacity for working and living together must flourish. For the ultimate truth is that the people of Northern Ireland need each other, and that to squander their great talents in bitter conflict is to diminish the prospects of them all. It is the profound wish and hope of the United Kingdom Government that this fundamental truth will be recognised, and will be the basis on which all concerned will take part in the further consultations for which this Paper is intended to provide a basis.”