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  1. Overview: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  2. Full Record: Northern Ireland Downing Street Joint Declaration (1993)
  3. Committee:Informal British-Irish Bilaterals
  4. Thursday, 11 November 1993, at 18:30

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.

Informal British-Irish Bilaterals

This committee has been created to model bilateral contact between British and Irish government delegates which happened outside of the more formal structures set up for intergovernmental negotiation. These informal meetings were sometimes crucial to the development of the Joint Declaration.

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Session 21775: 1993-11-11 18:30:00

[Exact time unknown] Dick Spring phoned Patrick Mayhew to express his disappointment at the line taken during the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 November 1993. Patrick Mayhew took the position that the Joint Declaration Initiative had not been rejected outright and that the British Government was prepared to take risks to achieve an end to violence.

Membership (at session start):

David Blatherwick, David Cooke, Douglas Hurd, Martin Mansergh, Patrick Mayhew, Dermot Nally, Dick Spring, Quentin Thomas, Seán Ó hUiginn (9 total)

Representing 2 delegations:

British Government , Irish Government

No imported or exported documents

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Enclosure: Draft Speaking Note for Patrick Mayhew for a Conversation with Dick Spring on 11 November 1993 - (file)

David Cooke sets out points to make about the Irish approach to the parallel peace and talks processes. The main British concern is that talks are not made conditional on peace, so as to avoid handing initiative to violent actors. The British repeated their perception that the Hume/Adams talks made gaining unionist approval for a Joint Declaration (which might appear reminiscent of Hume/Adams) very difficult. The British concern about Irish foot-dragging in Ancram's talks process is also repeated.

Record of a Telephone Conversation between Patrick Mayhew and Dick Spring on 11 November 1993 - (file)

Following the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 November 1993, Spring called Mayhew to express his anger and disappointment at the British Government's refusal to proceed with the Joint Declaration. Patrick Mayhew said the decision was not final and emphasised that the latest text (JD13, with Eames' additions) would receive careful attention.

Record of a Telephone Conversation between Patrick Mayhew and Dick Spring on 11 November 1993 - (file)

Following the Butler/Nally meeting on 10 November 1993, Spring called Mayhew to express his anger and disappointment at the British Government's refusal to proceed with the Joint Declaration. Patrick Mayhew said the decision was not final and emphasised that the latest text (JD13, with Eames' additions) would receive careful attention.

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