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

Memo from John Chilcot to Anthony Pawson Regarding the Preparation of a Briefing for John Major's Meeting with Charles Haughey Dated 20 June 1991

Thursday, 20 June 1991

i24559

In this memo, John Chilcot discusses whether John Major should be briefed in preparation for a prospective proposal from Charles Haughey regarding a joint declaration. He concludes that such a briefing is unnecessary, and lists the principal elements of the British Government's position on negotiations with PIRA. The document is lightly annotated.

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FROM: PUS
20 JUNE 1991

Copy no 3 of [3]
cc. Mr Deverell [2]

PS/SECRETARY OF STATE [1]

PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH THE TAOISEACH: THE PROVISIONALS

I have consulted Sir Robin Butler about whether the Prime Minister should be offered either background briefing or a steering brief on the Provisionals against the unlikely prospect that the Taoiseach might spring a surprise suggestion of a joint message or declaration aimed at securing a ceasefire or a cessation of violence.

2. We agreed that he should not. There is no basis on the Butler/Nally (or our own) conversations for supposing this may be raised; if by any chance it were the Prime Minister would no doubt prefer to take counsel rather than respond at the time; and both the Secretary of State and Sir Robin Butler are fully aware of the principal elements of HMG's position:

(i) terrorism is crime;
(ii) we do not negotiate with, or have (direct) contacts with, terrorists;
(iii) the Provisionals know they must abandon violence if they are ever to be accepted into the constitutional democratic political process.

J A CHILCOT

20 JUNE 1991