Quill
  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  3. Committee:Irish-Eames Bilaterals
  4. Thursday, 21 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.

Irish-Eames Bilaterals

This committee has been created to model bilateral contacts between Archbishop Robin Eames and the Irish government.

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Session 21743: 1993-10-21 12:00:00

[Exact date and time unknown] The Taoiseach resolved to show JD12 to Archbishop Eames during a meeting with Robin Butler on 20 October 1993. On 22 October 1993, Eames reported to John Chilcot that he had been shown JD12 and met the Taoiseach twice. We can therefore infer that it is likely he met with Reynolds on 21 October 1993.

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Letter from John Chilcot to Jonathan Stephens Recording a Meeting with Archbishop Eames on 22 October 1993 - (file)

Main details discussed were Eames's access to the British Government and his assessment of the increasing violent capabilities of loyalists.

Record of a Meeting between Quentin Thomas and Seán Ó hUiginn on 21 October 1993 in the Margins of the Liaison Group - (file)

The Irish opinion was that the British were neglecting a unique opportunity for peace following Hume/Adams due to parliamentary arithmetic and excessive fear of loyalist backlash. The Irish were unlikely to press on alone, and (different versions of) the text of the JDI were likely to be leaked by the Provisionals, the Irish Government, or John Hume. Discussions about the possibility of American involvement ended with an agreement that British/Irish discussion was the most profitable channel.

Record of a Meeting between Robin Butler, Albert Reynolds and Dick Spring to Discuss the Joint Declaration on 20 October 1993 - (file)

Meeting reflects difference of opinion between British and Irish about possibility for peace through the Joint Declaration. British stance was that the risk of a Loyalist backlash was too great, given the suspicion following the Hume/Adams talks.

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