Archive

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1984 Dec 31 - 1985 Mar 28
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1548
Ireland (Situation in Northern Ireland) (Part 19)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2014 Dec 30
Classification: Top Secret - UK Eyes A
Page count: 366
Any docs withheld? 1
Themes: Security services & intelligence, Terrorism, Northern Ireland

PREM19/1548 - download whole file (PDF, 66.96 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 21 - 40 of 50

Date Value Title
85 Feb 13 We Major Northern Ireland: Powell minute to MT (Armstrong-Nally talks: British response to latest Irish proposal) [suggests delay for consideration; MT agrees] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Feb 14 Th Major Northern Ireland: No.10 record of conversation (MT-Howe-Hurd-Armstrong & others) [Irish more realistic, pulling back from referendum on constitutional amendment; willing to go slowly; decision to consider carefully before replying, no rush] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Feb 15 Fr Major Northern Ireland: FCO letter to No.10 ("Irish Neutrality: Use of Treaty Ports During the Second World War") [MT asked for information about British shipping losses due to the closure of the ports to the Allies] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Feb 19 Tu Major Northern Ireland: Taoiseach Fitzgerald message to MT (freezing IRA funds) [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Feb 19 Tu Major Northern Ireland: FCO telegram to Airborne 003 Immediate (For the PM's Party) (1830Z) ("Prime Minister's Visit to Washington") [Irish contacts with pro-Irish members of US Congress] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Feb 19 Tu Major Northern Ireland: Armstrong record of conversation (Armstrong-Nally & others) [Armstrong-Nally talks in Co Kildare 19 Feb: no discussion of texts; possible constitutional amendment discussed - Armstrong thought Taoiseach saw merit but his colleagues would not agree - Irish thinking instead of international agreement registered at UN; Irish hoping to conclude negotiations in June] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Feb 27 We Major Northern Ireland: UKE Dublin telegram 92 to FCO (1045Z) ("Confiscated PIRA Funds") [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Feb 28 Th Minor Northern Ireland: John Cushanan letter to MT ("The Northern Ireland Economy") [views of the Northern Ireland Alliance Party] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Feb 28 Th Major Northern Ireland: MT letter to Michael McAtamney (IRA mortar attack on Newry Police Station) ["yet another chilling reminder of the sacrifices made by the [RUC] in the fight against terrorism"] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 1 Fr Major Northern Ireland: Hurd minute to MT (proposal for Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Body) [Conservative backbench interest in scheme - Powell warns "could very easily become a rod to beat the government's back"; MT wary] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 1 Fr Major Northern Ireland: Armstrong minute to MT ("Anglo-Irish Relations: Northern Ireland") [Armstrong-Nally talks now seem may result in agreement; proposes new Cabinet Committee on Ireland "to broaden the political base"; MT agrees] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 4 Mo Major Northern Ireland: Armstrong minute to Butler ("Anglo-Irish Relations: Security Co-Operation with the Republic") [Intelligence Coordinator's report on present state of co-operation - good between Dublin and London, problems across the border] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 4 Mo Major Northern Ireland: Whitelaw minute to MT (proposed Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Body) [House of Lords-Irish Senate link] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 7 Th Major Northern Ireland: Howe minute to MT ("Anglo-Irish Relations: Northern Ireland") [Howe-Hurd review of talks - an acceptable Anglo-Irish agreement "a prize well worth having"; suggests he and Hurd visit Dublin soon to discuss "how matters could best be taken forward"] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 7 Th Major Northern Ireland: Hurd minute to MT ("Anglo-Irish Talks: Joint Courts") [Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice letter opposing Anglo-Irish joint courts, written following imprudent approach from FitzGerald sounding him out; Powell comments FitzGerald's talking around "very worrying and imprudent"] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 7 Th Major Northern Ireland: Powell briefing for MT ("Anglo-Irish Relations: Northern Ireland") [Howe and Armstrong keen to clinch a deal with the Irish "and are not too fussy about obtaining a counterpart" in terms of SDLP cooperation with devolution; suggests she freeze everything until you see FitzGerald in Brussels and can tell him precisely what you need before agreement can be reached] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 8 Fr Major Northern Ireland: UKE Dublin telegram 124 to FCO (1115Z) ("Anglo-Irish Talks") [Irish Independent interview with Irish Foreign Minister Barry acknowledging talks with British, regrets summit row, British "very serious in seeking with us a solution"] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 8 Fr Major Northern Ireland: Howe minute to MT ("Anglo-Irish Relations: An Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Body") [on balance helpful] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 8 Fr Major Northern Ireland: Hurd minute to MT ("Protection of Police in RUC Buildings") [response to Newry mortar attack] [declassified Dec 2014]
85 Mar 8 Fr Major Northern Ireland: No.10 record of conversation (MT-Howe-Hurd-Armstrong & others) [agreed to proposed joint body discussing economic and social policy if Republic reverted to plan to amend constitution; otherwise strongest possible commitment to principle of consent and to SDLP involvement in devolution; FitzGerald pressing for early summit and leaking information to bring this about; no promises on timing] [declassified Dec 2014]