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

Record of Meeting between John Major and Peter Brooke Regarding Political Developments in Northern Ireland on 13 February 1991

Wednesday, 13 February 1991

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This letter, sent by Charles Powell to Anthony Pawson, provides an account of a meeting between Peter Brooke and John Major on 13 February 1991 where Brooke briefed Major on the political developments in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Brooke and Major discussed PIRA and a potential ceasefire, and Major offered to meet with Unionist and SDLP leaders some time in the near future. The document is annotated and some text is underlined.

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13 February 1991

[Dear Tony]

NORTHERN IRELAND: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

The Northern Ireland Secretary briefed the Prime Minister this afternoon on political developments in Northern Ireland and in the Republic. There were signs that the Irish Government were backing away from support for his initiative. He would continue to try to keep them in play. But we could not afford to let matters drag on indefinitely, and a conclusion either way would have to be reached in about a month.

There was a brief discussion also about the Northern Ireland Secretary’s recent minute on PIRA. The Prime Minister made clear that [_he would be opposed to any sort of concession_] to PIRA to encourae them to subscribe to a ceasefire. He was anyway sceptical whether they could make a ceasefire stick. It was agreed there was no action to be taken on your Secretary of State’s minute.

The Prime Minister suggested that he might offer to see both the Unionist and SDLP leaders in London at some point, probably in his office in the House of Commons. He thought the Northern Ireland Secretary welcomed this suggestion and undertook to advise on the best timing.

The Prime Minister said that he would be ready to see Archbishop Eames and Cardinal Daly at an appropriate moment.

[Yours sincerely

Charles Powell]

CHARLES POWELL

Tony Pawson Esq

Northern Ireland Office