British-Hume Bilaterals

This committee has been created to model bilateral contacts between John Hume and the British government.

Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)

This project models the series of formal and informal negotiations which led to the publication, in December 1993, of a declaration issued jointly by the British and Irish Governments. The Joint Declaration was a critical policy document which paved the way for a ceasefire and the entry of Sinn Féin into formal talks. It also laid out a shared set of principles – including, crucially, self-determination for the people of Ireland subject to the consent of the people of Northern Ireland – which would come to underpin the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and provide a framework for its ratification.

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Sessions (24)

[Exact time unknown] Peter Brooke met with John Hume, who suggested that he make a "no strategic interest" speech at a time to be agreed with the SDLP leader.

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[Exact time unknown] Hume handed over the proposals made by Reid and Murray to Ian Burns.

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[Exact time unknown] Ian Burns and John Hume met in the morning to discuss the Reid-Murray proposals.

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[Exact time unknown] Ian Burns and John Hume briefly discussed the Reid-Murray proposals.

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[Exact time unknown] Hume met Brooke privately at Westminster to brief him on recent discussions with Gerry Adams, in particular Adams proposal to move away from an armed strategy.

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[Exact time unknown] John Hume telephoned John Chilcot to discuss a conversation he had had with Gerry Adams.

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[Exact time unknown] Hume met Major and asked for authority to tell the Provisional IRA that the British Government was taking the idea of a Joint Declaration seriously.

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[Exact date and time unknown] At some time shortly before 26 February 1992, Hume handed over JD3 to the British government.

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[Exact date and time unknown] At some time in May 1992, Hume handed over JD4 to the British Government.

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[Exact time unknown] Hume met Chilcot and told him about the existence of JD7 (but did not show it to him).

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[Exact time unknown] After a meeting he had sought with John Major in late June was delayed, Hume handed over JD7 to John Chilcot.

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[Exact date and time unknown] At some point following the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 September 1993, but before writing a note on 15 September 1993, Chilcot met with John Hume to discuss the Joint Declaration Initiative.

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[Exact time unknown] Hume met with Major, accompanied by Mayhew and Chilcot. They discussed the Hume/Adams talks and the British points of contention with JD6. Hume offered to help with further re-drafting of the document.

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[Exact date and time unknown] At some point before the publication of the Hume/Adams statement, John Hume spoke to Patrick Mayhew to forewarn him.

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[Exact date and time unknown] The second Hume-Adams statement was issued on 25 September 1993. It announced that their discussions had made further progress and that they had put a proposal to Dublin. The statement was handed over to Quentin Thomas by John Hume at some point over the weekend, during a meeting where they discussed the statement.

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[Exact time unknown] John Chilcot met John Hume to discuss the Hume/Adams statement and the Joint Declaration initiative.

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[Exact time unknown] John Hume rang John Chilcot to urge continued work on the Joint Declaration. Hume suggested attempts were being made on his life. He also reported concerns regarding the Irish Government's indirect dialogue with the Provisionals, via Father Alec Reid. They also discussed Dick Spring's six principles speech to the Dáil.

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[Exact time unknown] John Major, Patrick Mayhew and John Chilcot were scheduled to meet John Hume on this day to explain the British decision not to proceed with the Joint Declaration.

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[Exact time unknown] John Major met John Hume to discuss the Joint Declaration Initiative.

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[Exact time unknown] John Hume phoned John Chilcot to inquire about progress on the Joint Declaration initiative.

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[Exact time unknown] John Hume phoned John Chilcot to explain that he was refusing interviews, but had put a statement on tape.

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[Exact time unknown] Late in the evening, John Chilcot spoke to John Hume about the JDI and the prospects for peace. Hume was concerned and disappointed by the British government's approach.

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[Exact time unknown] A letter from John Hume expressing concern at the possible loss of an opportunity for peace was handed over to John Major in the House of Commons.

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[Exact time unknown] On the evening of 2 December 1993, John Hume met with Patrick Mayhew to discuss the Joint Declaration Initiative.

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