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Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

Letter to Roderic Lyne Enclosing the Record of a Telephone Conversation between Patrick Mayhew and Robin Eames on 20 November 1993

Monday, 22 November 1993

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The Archbishop relays that Jim Molyneaux is anxious about his position following the press leak and he and his secretary have been harrassed about it. Following this conversation, the Secretary of State reassured Molyneaux that the Archbishop had intervened only by invitation, with no knowledge that the document would be leaked, and that he was not his competitor.

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NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE
WHITEHALL
LONDON SW1A 2AZ

Roderic Lyne Esq CMG
Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
LONDON
SW1A 2AA

22nd November 1993

Dear Roderic,

CONVERSATION WITH ARCHBISHOP EAMES: 20 NOVEMBER

I attach my Secretary of State's account of a telephone conversation he had with Archbishop Eames on Saturday 20 November. The Archbishops [sic] comments about Mr Molyneaux were confirmed in a subsequent conversation which my Secretary of State had with Mr Molyneaux which I am sending to you separately.

Copies of this letter go to John Sawers and Melanie Leach.

Yours ever

[Signature]
for
JONATHAN STEPHENS
Private Secretary

CONVERSATION WITH ARCHBISHOP EAMES: 20 NOVEMBER 1993

I spoke to Dr Eames in the afternoon of Saturday 20 November.

2. The Archbishop had seen Jim Molyneaux the previous day. He had been very agitated; frightened, even. At Glengall Street he had been asked whether he was not being led by the nose, and was questioned on the lines of "What have you agreed to?". On Thursday 18 November his secretary had been questioned similarly by David Burnside at a party: had he "given the nod" to another document? (That is to say, an alternative to the one he was known to have turned down.)

3. In the light of the Irish Press leak, Molyneaux said he would be 'finished' if it were known he had been consulted on a further document, or that he had had a letter from the Taoiseach. The leak had jeopardised former positions, and he had to run for cover. He wanted "to ponder" replying to the letter.

4. Dr Eames emphasised that he had shown Molyneaux only the three paragraphs 9-12, so Molyneaux could truthfully say he had not seen the whole document. It was these paragraphs with which Molyneaux had taken serious issue. But he could not possibly provide an alternative text in present circumstances.

5. Dr Eames was very anxious that I should reassure Molyneaux:

(a) that he had intervened only by invitation;

(b) that when the two of them had conferred, Dr Eames had had no knowledge that the Irish had already prepared the leaked document – as to which he felt considerably let down; and

(c) that Molyneaux was central to the process and that Dr Eames was in no way a competitor.

I undertook to pass these messages on.

6. The Archbishop said he had suggested to Molyneaux that he should speak to me. Molyneaux had asked "would that be welcomed". Dr Eames had said he was sure it would be. He concluded by emphasising to me how important it was to reassure Molyneaux of his centrality, and of his importance to the Government.

PM

22 November 1993