Resource Collections

Image - Resources

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

Enclosure: Memo from Anthony Pawson to Peter May Requesting Advice on Desmond Parsons' Proposal Dated 27 June 1991

Thursday, 27 June 1991

i24558

This memo records a request from Anthony Pawson for suggestions on how to respond to Reverend Desmond Parsons' proposal for a seminar to clarify the position of the British Government on Northern Ireland to Sinn Féin. Although the letter mentions that Parsons' letter to Peter Brooke and itinerary is enclosed, it has been removed in accordance with GDPR guidelines. The memo is annotated and marked.

Download File (format is: "application/pdf")
Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

(To go a specific resource item, please click on its link.)

Your Browser does not seem to allow embedded PDFs, but you can download the PDF instead.

None

None

Copyright

None

Physical Copy Information

None

Digital Copy Information

None

FROM: PS/SECRETARY OF STATE
27 JUNE 1991

Copy no ..... of [3]
PS/Secretary of State (L) [2]
Mr Deverell [3]

PS/PUS (L) [1]

POLITICAL MOVEMENT AND THE PROVISIONALS

The Secretary of State me The Rev Desmond Parsons (who has Redemptorist connections) in the House on 6 June. I attach for you and Mr Deverell the letter Mr Parsons subsequently wrote to the Secretary of State, together with the itinerary of his visit to Northern Ireland earlier this year.

2. Mr Parsons confirmed to the Secretary of State that his interlocutor was Hartley, the General Secretary of Sinn Fein. Hartley was seeking a direct dialogue with someone on the British side, and in particular would like to attend a seminar of a quasi-educational nature, to enable siNN fein to obtain a clearer picture of HMG's position. Mr Parsons was seeing if he could arrange such a seminar, at which Hartley would be present.

3. The Secretary of State explained to Mr Parsons that it was not possible for officials to be in direct contact with Sinn Fein in this way. However, he promised to give some thought as to how Mr Parsons could achieve his objective of enabling Hartley to have a clearer view of HMG's position. The Secretary of State would be grateful for advice and suggestions as to how this might possibly be done.

A J D PAWSON
PRIVATE SECRETARY
27 JUNE 1991