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

Telegram from Douglas Hurd Containing a Draft Personal Message to Charles Haughey with Amendments in Pen

Friday, 31 January 1992

i24041

Telegram includes a personal message from John Major to Charles Haughey. Pen amendments cross out some words and phrases.

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RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK
TELNO 88
OF 311958Z JANUARY 92
INFO PRIORITY DUBLIN

MIPT FROM PRIVATE SECRETARY FOR SECRETARIAT OF STATE'S PARTY

[-DRAFT-] PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER TO MR HAUGHEY

I AM SORRY THAT YOUR DECISION TO RETIRE [-WILL NOT ALLOW US TO HAVE THE FURTHER MEETINGS WE PLANNED FOR-]. I GREATLY ENJOYED THE MEETINGS IN LONDON AND DUBLIN LAST YEAR, WHICH I BELIEVE LED TO A CLOSE [-AND USEFUL-] UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER'S VIEWS [-AND PERSPECTIVES-] ON ANGLO-IRISH RELATIONS AND ON COMMUNITY ISSUES. AS YOU SAID AT OUR JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE ON 4 DECEMBER, NO TWO COUNTRIES IN EUROPE HAVE MORE INTERESTS IN COMMON TODAY. [-I HOPE TO CONTINUE EXCHANGES WITH YOUR SUCCESSOR TO HELP BUILD UP A RELATIONSHIP OF DEEPENING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE.-]

I HAVE ALSO VALUED YOUR CONSISTENT SUPPORT FOR TALKS ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND OF COURSE FOR THE ANGLO-IRISH AGREEMENT. WE SHARE AN ABHORRENCE OF VIOLENCE, A DETERMINATION TO DEFEAT IT, AND A BELIEF THAT POLITICAL CHANGE CAN COME ONLY THROUGH CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES.

AS CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE AT CLOSE QUARTERS YOUR LEADERSHIP OF YOUR COUNTRY DURING THE IRISH PRESIDENCY OF THE COMMUNITY IN 1990S. YOUR PRESIDENCY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN FORMULATING THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE TO THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNIST RULE IN EASTERN EUROPE AND IN CONVENING THE IGCS WHICH AFTER AGREEMENT AT MAASTRICHT WILL SHAPE EUROPE OVER THE NEXT DECADE AND BEYOND. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE LEFT THEIR IMPRINT ON EUROPE, AND I CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE [-PERSONAL-] PART WHICH YOU SO ABLY PLAYED IN BRINGING THEM ABOUT. THIS, LIKE YOUR STAMP ON THE HISTORY OF IRELAND, WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR YEARS TO COME.

I SHALL MISS WORKING WITH YOU AND SEND YOU MY BEST WISHES [-FOR THE FUTURE-].

HURD

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