Mr. James Prior. will be arriving in Washington today as the first stop on his American tour. This ironic situation clearly demonstrates the blatant discrimination inherent in the State Departments policy on visa applications. Secretary Prior. an appointed member of the British Government is permitted to travel and speak freely in the United States regarding his Governments policy in Northern Ireland. However. the official spokesman for the Sinn Fein Party. Joe Austin. Rev. Ian Paisley. and others have been denied visas and the opportunities afforded Secretary Prior. The denials have even been directed at officially elected members of the British Parliament from Northern Ireland. Americans accustomed to constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech greatly resent the State Departments denial of such rights to those who oppose British oppression of Northern Ireland. As a concerned member of the ad hoc congressional committee on Irish affairs. I demand the State Department reevaluate its present policy and institute a more open. more fair visa policy with respect to visitors from Northern Ireland.*
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