- Monday, 01 November 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
This committee has been created to model internal British Government documents and meetings.
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Session 21734: 1993-11-01 12:00:00
[Exact time unknown] A revised draft for Prime Minister's statement to the House on the European Council and on Northern Ireland was submitted, and the statement was made. Quentin Thomas submitted a briefing pack for a meeting between John Hume and either John Major or Patrick Mayhew.
Membership (at session start):
Michael Ancram, Kenneth Baker, Tony Beeton, David Blatherwick, John Blelloch, Ian Burns, Robin Butler, John Chilcot, Ken Clarke, David Cooke, Jim Daniell, Timothy Daunt, John Deverell, David Fell, William Fittall, David Gillmore, Christopher Glyn-Jones, Richard Gozney, Michael Howard, 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, Malcolm Rifkind , A W Stephens, Jonathan Stephens, Quentin Thomas, Stephen Wall (37 total)
Representing 1 delegations:
No imported or exported documents
Resources (9):
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Resource Items (9):
Draft Contribution to John Major's Speech to the House on a Special Meeting of the European Council on 29 October 1993 - (link)
Additional contributions to the statement drafted for John Major to give in the House of Commons about his bilateral with Albert Reynolds at Brussels. Document also contains supplementaries on security and politics for follow up questions in the House.
Enclosure: Briefing for a Meeting with John Hume - (link)
Note contains explanation of the British position. Hume's proposals are rejected on the basis of a prediction of a loyalist backlash. The aim of the following arguments is to convince the SDLP and Hume of the importance of the talks process and that talks with the PIRA were not fruitful whilst violence continued.
Enclosure: Draft of John Major's Speech to the House on a Special Meeting of the European Council on 29 October 1993 - (link)
Draft statement on meeting of the European Council and separate meeting with Albert Reynolds about the impact of the Hume/Adams talks on the possibility of a Joint Declaration document.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration Draft (JD12A) as Shown to Jim Molyneaux - (link)
A draft of the JDI (JD12) which was shown to Jim Molyneaux and not to the Irish side.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration Irish Draft (JD12) as Conveyed on 8 October 1993 - (link)
A draft of the JDI (JD11) which was the last text received from the Irish government, and which may have been shown to John Hume.
Enclosure: Joint Declaration Irish Draft (JD8) as Passed by Seán Ó hUiginn on 24 September 1993 - (link)
The latest text of the Joint Declaration (JD8) which John Hume received from the Irish government prior to his statement following talks with Gerry Adams.
Extract from Hansard: John Major's Speech to the House on a Special Meeting of the European Council on 29 October 1993 - (link)
Meeting began with John Major's recollection of a 29th October European Council meeting. Major then gave an account of his bilateral discussion with Albert Reynolds concerning the Hume/Adams talks. Questions on the broad theme of the balance between the political talks and the peace processes followed. John Hume questioned why his suggestions following talks with Gerry Adams had been rejected. Ian Paisley, Sir James Kilfedder, and other Unionist MPs identified Articles 2&3 of the Irish constitution as the principal causes of vilence.
Letter from Roderic Lyne to Robert Sawers Enclosing a Revised Draft of John Major's Speech to the House on a Special Meeting of the European Council on 29 October 1993 - (link)
Copies also sent to the NIO, The Treasury, The Department of Trade and Industry, The Home Office, the Department of Health, the Chief Whip's Office, and the Cabinet Office
Minute from Quentin Thomas to Jonathan Stephens Enclosing a Briefing for a Meeting between John Hume and Either John Major or Patrick Mayhew - (link)
Letter notes that the principal agenda item for the upcoming meeting is the differing interpretation of the Brussels Agreement's stance on the JDI's viability.
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