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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.
Source material
Linen Hall Library
Details
Copies of the papers and correspondence relating to the Hume-Adams talks in 1988 are held in the Linen Hall Library, files P3394 and P3395.
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Committee: SDLP
Released 5th/Sept/88. Monday September 1988Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
Proposal For Sinn Féin-SDLP Talks Friday January 1988Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
[Editors' Note: Sinn Féin and the SDLP received a written invitation.] Friday January 1988Committee: Reid-Ó Fiaich-Murray
[Editor's Note: The original letter is only reported to be sent by Alec Reid.] Friday January 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Proposal For Sinn Féin-SDLP Talks Monday January 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Proposal For Sinn Féin-SDLP Talks Friday January 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Establishment of a Monitoring Sub-committee Friday January 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
[Editors' Note: Gerry Adams brought the letter proposing talks with the SDLP to the Ard Comhairle.] Friday January 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
[Editors' Note: The sub-committee was established.] Friday January 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
which included Tom Hartley (General Secretary), Friday January 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Danny Morrison (Director of Publicity) Friday January 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Councillor Mitchel McLaughlin and myself. Friday January 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Sean McManus (Party Chairman) Friday January 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Martin McGuinness Friday January 1988Committee: SDLP
[Editors' Note: John Hume was the principle correspondent for the SDLP.] Friday January 1988Committee: SDLP
Proposal For Sinn Féin-SDLP Talks Friday January 1988Committee: SDLP
[Editors' Note: The letter was signed by John Hume.] Thursday March 1988Committee: SDLP
Letter from John Hume To Gerry Adams On 17 March 1988 Thursday March 1988Committee: SDLP
[Editors' Note: The letter was received by Gerry Adams.] Thursday March 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Letter from John Hume To Gerry Adams On 17 March 1988 Thursday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Letter from John Hume To Gerry Adams On 17 March 1988 Thursday March 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Towards a Strategy for Peace Monday March 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Letter from Gerry Adams to John Hume on 18 March 1988 Friday March 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
[Editors' Note: The documents were handed to Alec Reid to be delivered to John Hume.] Friday March 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
[Editors' Note: The documents were handed to Alec Reid to be delivered to John Hume.] Friday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Letter from Gerry Adams to John Hume on 18 March 1988 Saturday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Towards a Strategy for Peace Saturday March 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
[Editors' Note: In a letter from Gerry Adams to John Hume, Adams outlined what the sub-committee established by the Ard Chomhairle thought of the SDLP proposals.] Before the delegations met on March 23 we studied your letter to me of the week before... Tuesday March 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
We felt that it lacked real political depth and analysis, relying on emotional rhetoric but camouflaged in nationalistic language. You ignore the substantial and ongoing contribution which British domination has made in creating and sustaining our... Tuesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
On March 23 both parties had a good, non-acrimonious meeting which ranged over the political objectives of both. Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Not surprisingly, we reached an impasse over the role and intentions of the British government which, flying in the face of all the facts, you incredulously pronounce has no self-interest in occupying Ireland. Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' Note: It was so decided.] Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
The delegations met again on May 19. Thursday May 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Following this our sub-committee met weekly to discuss this meeting and to draft answers to the questions asked of us. A considerable proportion of Ard Chomhairle time was also taken up with the Sinn Féin/SDLP dialogue. Wednesday May 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
[Editors' Note: The response to the SDLP paper was presented on 19 May.] Wednesday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
The method of your official response to our first document - into which we had put considerable time and effort - was, to say the least, disappointing. Sean Farren delivered a verbal reply lasting just over ten minutes which was completely negative and... Thursday May 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Sinn Fein on National Self-determination and a Proposal on Joint Action on Fair Employment Wednesday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Sinn Fein on National Self-determination and a Proposal on Joint Action on Fair Employment Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
One More Meeting Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
SDLP to Clarify 'Unity by Consent' Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Sinn Féin Prepare Proposal on the British Role and a Conference Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
SDLP Clarify Attitude to the British Role and Devolution Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' Note: The full delegations met one further time.] Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' Note: The account of this meeting was provided by Gerry Adams in his letter of August 1988. The SDLP did prepare further papers for the next meeting on 13 June, although Gerry Adams objected that they did not address the questions that the... Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' Note: Sinn Féin produced this proposal for the following meeting.] Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' Note: The account of this meeting was provided by Gerry Adams in his letter of August 1988. The SDLP did prepare further papers for the next meeting on 13 June, although Gerry Adams objected that they did not address the questions that the... Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' Note: The meeting ended and the delegations met again on June 13.] Thursday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
On 13 June the delegations met for the third time. Monday June 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Persuading the British - a Joint Call Sunday June 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
[Editor's Note: The document was presented at the meeting with the SDLP delegation on 13 June.] Sunday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Persuading the British - a Joint Call Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
SDLP Clarification on Devolution Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Subsequently, and presumably as a result of our discussions, SDLP party spokespersons were to state that the SDLP had no 'ideological commitment to devolution'. We are still awaiting a response to what that means 'in practice'. Because you have hedged... Wednesday March 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
Sinn Féin and SDLP to Call for Joint Statement by the Governments Monday June 1988Committee: SDLP
SDLP - Sinn Fein 13 June 1988 Sunday June 1988Committee: SDLP
[Editors' Note: The paper was discussed at the meeting of the two parties on 13 June 1988.] Sunday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
SDLP/Sinn Féin 13 June 1988 Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
At this juncture I had to point out to you that these two documents were not the two you had promised us which were to have been: your political definition of 'unity by consent' and a response to our questions 4 and 5. I also pointed out that the... Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
SDLP to Retract Statement on Unionist Veto Monday June 1988Committee: SDLP
SDLP comments on Sinn Féin "Proposals" Sunday June 1988Committee: SDLP
[Editor's Note: The paper was discussed at the meeting of the two parties on 13 June 1988.] Sunday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
SDLP comments on Sinn Féin "Proposals" Monday June 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
[Editors' note: Tom Hartley left the negotiation.] Monday June 1988Committee: SDLP
[Editors' Note: The document was presented to Gerry Adams by John Hume on 11 July 1988.] Monday July 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Letter of Review from Gerry Adams to John Hume on 14 August 1988 Sunday August 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
[Editors' Note: The letter was sent to John Hume.] Sunday August 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin Press Statement At The End Of The Talks 5 September Monday September 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
[Editor's Note: After the embargo period, the statement was released. We represent this by referring it out of the Committee.] Monday September 1988Committee: SDLP
SDLP Statement Tuesday August 1988Committee: Sinn Féin
A Scenario for Peace Friday May 1987Committee: Sinn Féin
A Scenario for Peace (find enclosed). [Editors' Note: Enclosed with the Sinn Féin discussion paper of May 1988.] Wednesday May 1988Committee: Hume-Adams
A Scenario for Peace Thursday May 1988Committee: Magee-Loyalist Bilaterals
The Hidden Agenda Monday November 1993