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The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) requires that an agent of a foreign principal must register as such with the foreign agents registration unit of the DOJ in order to legally conduct political activity in the United States. This is not to suggest any denotation that a foreign agent is a shady, malicious character although some fit that billing.
The authority by which the DOJ may demand a registration by an individual or a group is the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The main purpose of the FARA is accountability. If funds are raised by an agent in the States or money from a foreign principal is used for influence peddling in the US, then the DOJ by law has a right to know. There should not be any taint attached to someone being a foreign agent, but when you are associated with a controversial issue or have a controversial foreign principal, this produces a false vigilance in the DOJ which is motivated by their image in the media. HARASSMENTIf the media is down on a group you can be sure the DOJ will go after those in the news to the point of harassment. Any issue associated with the North of Ireland is deemed by US sources or opinion as controversial.An individual acting in the United States under the direction or control of a foreign principal or indirectly supervised by a foreign principal, and/or collects funds or other things of value for the foreign principal is an agent of that foreign principal (FP). An agent is one who represents the FP before any official of the United States government. A person who holds himself out to be an agent, whether or not it is pursuant to a formal contractual relationship may be an agent of a foreign principal. If an agent accepts money as a political contribution, it is illegal and a violation of law. A foreign principal includes a political party. An agent of a foreign principal means any person who acts in any other capacity at the order, request, or under the direction or control of a foreign principal, or whose activities are directly or indirectly supervised and/or subsidised in whole or in part by a foreign principal, engaging in political activities in the US in the interests of a foreign principal inclusive of political propaganda. A foreign political party includes any organisation or combination of individuals in another country. Political propaganda includes any oral, visual, graphic, written, or other communication or expression by any person which person believes will indoctrinate, convert, induce in any way, influence a recipient or any section of US public with reference to political policies to influence the foreign policy of the US with regard to other countries. To engage in such activity, an agent must file under the Foreign Agents Registration Act unit of the Department of Justice a detailed summary of activity inclusive of the money collected and the names of the contributors. Political activity by aliens in the USA is a barterable commodity and an entity to be controlled by the US Government in a selective and arbitrary fashion. The means of barter is the interest of the US at the given moment in that individual or organisation as regards the conduct and concern of US foreign policy. Influencing US foreign policy is a legitimate pursuit and should not suggest foreboding overtones. Those who intend to do so for a foreign principal must first register as a foreign agent. Now that we have tediously examined legal requirements for agents of a foreign principal, we must take the practical side and apply them to those who are attempting to influence the US Government in all its branches with regard to the North of Ireland. The idea of somehow making American lawmakers see that the Irish situation had a similarity to their own founding by physical force against the same British is a logical sentiment of Irish activists. The awesome power of British influence in the world media and the fifth column they had at the US State Department was two major contentions with which they had to deal. When serious lobbying was begun with some remarkable success by Irish Americans, the British dirty tricks machine was switched on. Supporters of Irish freedom were dubbed advocates of mindless violence and US lawmakers were aroused with caution. Around 1976, SDLP stalwart, John Hume, began an anti-Irish Republican lobby campaign in the US. Now, I ask the reader to go back to the provisions of the Foreign Agents Registration Act and see if you think John Hume is a foreign agents required by US law to register and file reports on his activities with particular attention to fundraising. Mr Hume has come to the US from the mid-seventies specifically to influence US foreign policy and to raise money. He has been quite successful in both areas, and he is not from this source begrudged the right to do so. Ireland in the past 25 years has sent many people of varying political opinion. The United States has through its visa policy manipulated those permitted to come here. There has been no parity, equality, or equity in issuing visas. Those who reinforce in whole or in part US policy are permitted entry, and one need have no principles only a head nodding affirmatively, like a robot, to gain entry. The two most frequent visitors to the States have been Ian Paisley and John Hume, one a unionist and one a nationalist. There is a bonding issue that both share and that is belief in participation, in the British political system, and bolstering the status quo. Paisley and Hume have their own agendas, but both have tried to influence the US government and the US public. These two both raise money for political purposes on behalf of a foreign principal(s). DIRECTEDHume is directed in his efforts by the Dublin government, by his SDLP and at times by the British Labour Party. Paisley is directed by the DUP which, of course, is directed by him.Hume is given money by private contributors and the total amount is not small. He has many benefactors especially in the business community. Paisley derives most of his funds from Evangelical Christian groups. There has been no public accounting about who gives money to support their efforts. The American public has a right to know, since they come here to influence US foreign policy. Both men have attacked Americans of Irish heritage calling them mindless, terrorist’s fellow-travellers, and uneducated on the situation in Ireland. They may spout their opinions, but they should comply with US laws. I do not know if Paisley or Hume are registered as foreign agents with the Justice Department, but I do know they should be. I for one want to know what their activities have been, how much money they have gotten in the US, and who are the contributors. If Hume, especially, is registered with the Justice Department, so be it, but we want published their registration information. If not, we must demand that the Justice Department direct them to register and supply proper information. If the Justice Department does not pursue this matter, we must seek an investigation. Because Hume preaches non-violence, peace at any price, constitutional nationalism, and anti-Republicanism and he is the darling of the peace processors. Remember this ,the ‘Peace Process’ equals partition, and Hume is its spokesman above all others. The DOJ needs to scrutinise Hume and who he represents. To assist the DOJ, they can start with the SDLP, British Government, and most of all the Dublin Government which maintains a slush fund for his efforts. If Hume is not registered and it is determined he has a foreign principal(s) and is raising money, then Hume is in violation of US law and engaging in criminal acts. He is not here, when he lobbies, as a British MP, he is here to subvert the legal activities of Irish Americans. Tony O’Reilly, President/CEO of Heinz Corporation is a Hume godfather as is Ted Kennedy and many others. Their relationship and activities on behalf of Hume need attention Irish American groups and individuals have been investigated for their activity regarding foreign principals and contributors, so it is reasonable and just that all receive the same scrutiny. Certainly, Hume who reminds others to obey the law should himself be in full compliance. Hume on many occasions has tried to associate people and groups in the States with groups in Ireland, suggesting both violate the law, and he has been encouraged in his lies by the likes of Kennedy and others. CHALLENGEWe must challenge the US government’s law enforcement arm to investigate the activities of John Hume and, of course, Ian Paisley, but Hume is the one whose activities have been more vicious and underhanded.If John Hume has complied with the law, all well and good; then we need a list of his contributors made public. If he is in violation of the law we want him prosecuted, punished and deported and the same for Paisley. There are others, lesser known, but this is a start.
By the way, those who come merely to educate the American public and help raise money for charitable causes such as prisoners are non-political and not in violation.
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