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

Enclosure: Draft Minute from John Chilcot to John Major Regarding Political Movement and PIRA, Subject to Peter Brooke's Approval

Tuesday, 29 January 1991

i24602

This minute, written by John Chilcot and addressed to John Major, discusses signs that PIRA/Sinn Féin was considering adopting political alternatives to paramilitary activity. In this minute, Chilcot provided background on the evolution of PIRA and Sinn Féin's means of achieving political aims and on the British Government's security measures as well as attempts to open democratic avenues for Northern Ireland's constitutional status to be discussed. He also mentioned John Hume's idea that a joint public declaration by the British and Irish Governments could persuade PIRA to call for a ceasefire, and argued that the political development process needed to be continued because it further pressured PIRA/Sinn Féin to rethink its stance on violence. Chilcot noted that while the British Government's immediate objective should be to maintain existing policy positions, there was a possibility that they might have to consider political risks, such as engaging in talks with PIRA, in order to achieve peace. He underlined that this should be done without compromising any crucial interests or principles. Some text has been marked and crossed out.

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