Declassified F97-013#45
By SMF, NARA, Date 5/17/00
Secret
The White House
MEMORANDUM FOR PETER SOMMER, PAUL THOMPSON
FROM: Robert M. Kimmitt
SUBJECT: Secretary Shultz’s Evening Report of 12/18/84
The following excerpt is for your information only. Please do not refer to it in any of the discussions.
4. British Reaction to Denial of Extradition Request Sommer/Thompson. On December 14, Sir Geoffrey Howe passed me a hand-written note about a New York Federal district court’s denial on political offense grounds of a UK request for extradition of IRA gunman and convicted murderer Joseph Doherty. Howe stressed he understands fully the independent nature of the US judiciary and emphasised that his note was not a complaint but rather an identification of a common problem. He suggested that the US and UK should jointly consider either (a) amount of the present extradition treaty, (b) change in US legislation, or (c) some other move to crack down on terrorism. Despite some opposition in the Home Office to raising this issue, Prime Minister Thatcher probably will take a similar line with you during her visit. Coincidentally, the Department’s Dan McGovern is now in London discussing the possibility of amending the extradition treaty or taking other actions to avoid dut misuse of the political offenses exception of the extradition treaty.