<h5>ROINN AN TAOISIGH</h5>
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_SECRET & PERSONAL_
_NORTHERN IRELAND_
_Note:-_
As arranged, I phoned Cabinet Secretary Butler this morning to discuss changes in the text of the draft Joint Declaration, following the Brussels meetings. These changes are indicated in a copy of the text of the draft JD 15 of 7 December, including the new "end" paragraph.
In particular, we were suggesting the inclusion of the six rights, as in attached note, before the last sentence in paragraph 5. This was to meet a point made by the Reverend Magee, on behalf of Unionist and Loyalist interests and should, therefore, not cause the British any problem.
On paragraphs 10 to 12 in the draft (the Convention) I said, following discussion with the Taoiseach, that the Taoiseach's information was that Molyneaux did not like the word "Convention", but otherwise did not have a major problem with the idea. The Taoiseach was proposing to change the title to something like "Irish Forum for Peace and Reconciliation", to meet Molyneaux's point.
Eames seemed to have a bigger problem than Molyneaux with the Convention but the Taoiseach was confident that he could bring Eames around.
He would like the Prime Minister to know, before he goes into the meeting of Ministers this morning on the Declaration, that if these changes were agreed in paragraphs 10 and 11, and paragraph 12 omitted, the Declaration would stand a very good chance of succeeding.
Butler - and subsequently his secretary - took note of the changes. He said the Prime Minister would phone the Taoiseach after the meeting of Ministers - probably between 12.00 and 1.00 p.m.
{DN}
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Dermot Nally,
13 December, 1993.
cc. Secretary to the Government, Mr. Frank Murray,
Dr. Martin Mansergh
Assistant Secretary O'hUiginn, Dept. of Foreign Affairs.
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We ~~recognise~~:– {[respect?}
1. The right of free political thought
2. The right of freedom and expression of religion
3. The right to pursue democratically national and political aspirations
4. The right to seek constitutional change by peaceful and legitimate means
5. The right to live wherever one chooses without hindrance
6. The right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity regardless of class\, creed ~~or~~ colour {or sex}
All the above rights are dear to us and are the very basis of and reason for our existence. The threat to these, we believe, justifies our stance. We do however recognise that these things are important to all the people of our Province.
We ask the Government of the Republic of Ireland to clarify whether, the offer of cessation of violence can be used as a weapon to achieve a political solution and to state categorically whether they believe that the consent of the people of Northern Ireland is essential for any constitutional settlement.
