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

Enclosure: Alternative British Draft of the Joint Declaration (18 November 1993 Draft)

Monday, 22 November 1993

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The draft statement is aimed at being made at the 3 December Dublin Summit. At this stage, it contains lots of gaps, but central to it is the idea that a Joint Declaration would be part of a longer peace process and as such is only a starting point or framework. In this draft text, John Major would set out the British position. This states firmly that the status of Northern Ireland can change, but with the consent of the North, whilst also reiterating commitments to peace and to "neutrality" as set out in the Whitbread speech of the 9 November by Patrick Mayhew. Then, the Taoiseach Albert Reynolds should read out a statement that also reiterates these notions of peace, consent, self-determination, and takes seriously the concerns of Unionists. History is a constant theme. The draft concludes with both leaders committing to further talks based on the principles outlined in their respective statements as well as to creating an Irish Convention. From this section onwards, the paragraphs are in square brackets. This is because they are two alternative versions of the same point on an Irish Convention. It ends with a promise that if the IRA were to end violence, then they could be part of this dialogue as a democratic party. This version includes some annotations.

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