- Tuesday, 12 October 1993, at 12:00
Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
This project models the series of formal and informal negotiations which led to the publication, in December 1993, of a declaration issued jointly by the British and Irish Governments. The Joint Declaration was a critical policy document which paved the way for a ceasefire and the entry of Sinn Féin into formal talks. It also laid out a shared set of principles – including, crucially, self-determination for the people of Ireland subject to the consent of the people of Northern Ireland – which would come to underpin the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and provide a framework for its ratification.
British Government
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Session 21689: 1993-10-12 12:00:00
[Exact time unknown] John Chilcot and Patrick Mayhew discussed the Joint Declaration and amended David Cooke's proposed wording for an amendment to paragraph 4. The minute to John Major recommending next steps was sent, with a final version of the British proposed amendment to paragraph 4 of JD12.
Membership (at session start):
Michael Ancram, Kenneth Baker, Tony Beeton, David Blatherwick, John Blelloch, Ian Burns, Robin Butler, John Chilcot, David Cooke, Jim Daniell, Timothy Daunt, John Deverell, William Fittall, David Gillmore, Christopher Glyn-Jones, Richard Gozney, Douglas Hurd, Roderic Lyne, John Major, Jonathan Margetts, Peter May, Patrick Mayhew, John McConnell, David McIlroy , Danny McNeill, R. O. Miles, Anthony Pawson, Christopher Prentice , Stephen Rickard, A W Stephens, Jonathan Stephens, Quentin Thomas, Stephen Wall (33 total)
Representing 1 delegations:
No imported or exported documents
Resources (6):
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Resource Items (6):
Enclosure: Annex A - Key Considerations for the Joint Declaration - (file)
This document summarizes how things stand with regards to the Joint Declaration initiative, including the position of the Irish Government, John Hume and PIRA and the likely reception both in Britain and Ireland to the Joint Declaration. Mayhew also outlined the discussion between the British and Irish delegations regarding the constitutional guarantee, and emphasized the importance of securing a reference to it in explicit terms. The issue of securing Jim Molyneaux's support for the Joint Declaration initiative is also set out, along with an illustrative sequence of events.
Enclosure: Annex D – Paragraph 4 of the Joint Declaration with British Amendments Underlined - (file)
This document contains the text of paragraph 4 of the Joint Declaration with amendments (underlined) regarding the constitutional guarantee that Northern Ireland would not leave the United Kingdom without the consent of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland. The document includes some annotations.
Enclosure: Suggested Sequence of Events for the Joint Declaration Initiative - (file)
This document sets out the possible outcomes and next steps of talks depending on the reaction to the current draft JD12.
Letter from Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Patrick Mayhew to Prime Minister John Major Regarding the Joint Declaration on the 12 October 1993 - (file)
This minute, circulated by Tony Beeton on behalf of Patrick Mayhew on 12 October 1993, provides an overview of the recent developments regarding the Joint Declaration. Mayhew confirmed that Taoiseach Albert Reynolds had agreed to offer four assurance based around the nature of their talks and ruling out any expectations for the British to talk to Sinn Féin. He also emphasized the importance of making a reference to the constitutional guarantee and getting Jim Molyneaux's understanding on the matter. The letter encloses four annexes - a proposal for a way forward; an intelligence assessment; the latest version of the Joint Declaration; and an amendment to paragraph 4 of it. Only Annex A and D are present in this collection.
Memo from Tony Beeton to Peter May Regarding a Possible Sequence of Events Document Enclosed - (file)
This cover letter, send by Tony Beeton to Peter May, encloses an expanded version of a previous document recording an illustrative sequence of events for the Joint Declaration initiative.
Record of a Meeting between John Chilcot and Patrick Mayhew on 12 October 1993 - (file)
This document, written by Jonathan Stephens, contains the record of a meeting between Patrick Mayhew and John Chilcot on 12 October 1993. It records that Mayhew agreed that there should be an explicit reference to a constitutional guarantee in paragraph 4 of the Joint Declaration, and decided that he would approach James Molyneaux after getting Prime Minister John Major's agreement to the textual amendments he had proposed.
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