World Notes DIPLOMACY

Since 1985 the historic treaty of cooperation between London and Dublin has alleviated their mutual distrust over Northern Ireland. Irish and British security forces have worked closely to restrict the operations of the Irish Republican Army. Last week two decisions in Britain jolted that newly forged relationship.

First, Sir Patrick Mayhew, the British Attorney General, announced that for reasons of national security no prosecutions would be brought against a group of Ulster police officers involved in the killing of six Catholic civilians in 1982 and 1983. Dublin had expected an investigation into allegations that police were covering up a "shoot to kill" order. Then British jurists dismissed an appeal by six Catholics from Northern Ireland convicted in the 1974 bombing of two Birmingham bars in which 21 people died. In Ireland, the men were believed to have been railroaded.

Irish Prime Minister Charles Haughey warned of "serious implications" for security cooperation, which he said "can only be conducted on a basis of < mutual trust." Worried by the souring relationship, Britain agreed to an Irish request for an emergency meeting this week.