- Tuesday, 23 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 21814: 1993-11-23 12:00:01
[Exact time unknown] Jonathan Stephens wrote to Roderic Lyne enclosing the work commissioned at the Ministerial meeting earlier in the day. This included a further draft of the alternative British draft of the Joint Declaration; a commentary on that draft; a speaking note for the Prime Minister to use in his meeting with Mr Molyneaux; a draft letter for the Prime Minister to send to the Taoiseach; a speaking note for Sir Robin Butler to use during handover of the letter and the alternative draft; and the article in the "Irish Press" of 19 November 1993.
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 (7):
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Resource Items (7):
Early Draft of Letter from John Major to Albert Reynolds Introducing the Alternative British Draft of the Joint Declaration - (link)
The Prime Minister writes to Albert Reynolds about the damage done to the public perception of the proposed Joint Declaration by the leak of an Irish draft of the paper and by statements made by Humes and Adams. He references a new text to be attached to the letter that would help to "finesse this difficulty." Annotations state this is an earlier draft of a letter dated as 25/11/1993.
Enclosure: Alternative British Draft of the Joint Declaration (23 November 1993 Draft with Molyneaux's Amendments) - (link)
Details points of the Joint Statement, clarifying the intentions of the two governments and their intentions moving forward.
Enclosure: Commentary on Alternative British Draft of the Joint Declaration - (link)
Commentary on British draft for Dublin Joint Statement which is divided into a Summit Communique and a Joint Statement on constitutional issues.
Enclosure: Draft Letter from John Major to Albert Reynolds Introducing the Alternative British Draft of the Joint Declaration - (link)
The Prime Minister writes to Albert Reynolds about the damage done to the public perception of the proposed Joint Declaration by the leak of an Irish draft of the paper and by statements made by Humes and Adams. He references a new text to be attached to the letter that would help to "finesse this difficulty."
Enclosure: Speaking Note for a Meeting between John Major and Jim Molyneaux on 24 November 1993 - (link)
Brief for meeting with James Molyneaux with responses to statements made by Humes and Adams on the previous weekend as well as to the leak of an Irish draft paper in the previous Friday's Irish Press. Briefing ends with a note to Molyneaux that this consultation could be kept secret anticipating his need for discretion.
Enclosure: Speaking Note for a Meeting between Robin Butler and Albert Reynolds to Introduce the Alternative British Draft of the Joint Declaration - (link)
This paper proposes a Joint Declaration that is distinct from previous drafts in order to separate it from the negative associations and failures of these.
Letter from Jonathan Stephens to Roderic Lyne Enclosing Work Commissioned at a Ministerial Meeting on 23 November 1993 - (link)
Letter encloses six documents commissioned at ministerial meeting.
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Events (7)
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