This document contains a background note on Gerry Adams' speech in the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis. It also includes a set of lines for the British Government to take on its position regarding Sinn Féin. The note lists Gerry Adams' speech as taking place on 3 February 1991, but newspaper articles from the time report that the speech occurred on 2 February 1991.
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Background Note
At the Sinn Fein annual conference on 3 February, Mr Gerry Adams outlined a "peace process" and referred to the "inevitability of talks" between the Government and Sinn Fein. Unionist MPs in particular are vociferously opposed to any suggestion that the Government might talk to Sinn Fein (some suspect 'behind the scenes' negotiations involving a ceasefire). The Government has consistently made it clear that there can be no contact with Sinn Fein before there has been a definite and prolonged renunciation of its support for violence.
CPLHIL/3925/MD
Sinn Fein
The government has consistently made clear that we will have no dealings with Sinn Fein while it supports the use of violence.
[If Sinn Fein wants to be treated like a constitutional political party it will need to behave like one.]
CPLHILLL/3925/MD