Declassified 98-005#12
By SMF, NARA, Date 10/13/98
10 Downing Street
23 July 1984
Dear Ron,
I was greatly touched by your message of 18 July, and I am grateful for your thoughtfulness in sending it to me.
I did not reply immediately because I hoped that the dock strike might be settled within a few days. An agreement has now been reached and the ports are open again. The miners’ dispute has not yet been resolved, but a substantial portion of the industry is at work and producing coal, and we have several months before the strike would do any substantial damage to our economy. I am confident that in due course firmness and patience will achieve a victory for the forces of moderation and commonsense which are Britain’s traditional sources of strength. The issues underlying the miners’ strike are serious and important and in tackling them it is good to know that we have the support of our friends.
[Sign off handwritten:]
Every good wish,
Yours ever,
Margaret