The Downing Street Declaration 1993

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What was the Hume-Adams Initiative?
-SDLP leader John Hume believed that talking to Republicans could be beneficial. In early 1988 he began secret talks with Gerry Adams -These talks lasted until Aug and remained secret until 1993 -Hume faced much opposition for this
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What did Sinn Fein publish in 1992?
They published 'Towards a lasting peace', a document which outlined that there was a reduction of the Republican movement's emphasis on armed struggle. Instead it focused on the concept of 'self-determination' (NI people should control their future)
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What did Peter Brooke, the Secretary of State do?
-In 1989 the Secretary of State, Peter Brooke, stated that if the PIRA were to call a ceasefire the British govt. would act in an 'imaginative way' -He stated in 1990 that his govt. had no 'selfish or strategic economic interest in NI'
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What did Peter Brooke, the Secretary of State do? (Cont.)
-Brooke had secretly agreed to the establishment of a 'back channel' which was a private line of communication with the republican leadership -He also tried to start talks between the main constitutional parties
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What did Peter Brooke, the Secretary of State do? (Cont..)
-However, the Anglo-Irish agreement prevented unionists from getting involved -The Intergovernmental conference of the Agreement was suspended
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What else did Republican leaders do at this time?
-They suggested that Britain should persuade Unionists that their interests were best served in a united Ireland -They argued that Irish nationalist parties should unite to solve the constitutional problem. This would reduce the Unionist majority
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What was the Downing street Declaration?
The Downing Street Declaration was an agreement between the UK and Ireland on a peaceful way forward for NI. It enshrined the principle of consent which meant that only the people of NI could determine its constitutional future.
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When was the Downing Street Declaration signed?
It was signed by Albert Reynolds and John Major on the 15th Dec 1993
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When the Hume-Adams discussions began again in April 1993 and SF agreed to acknowledge the need for unionist consent for the future of NI, why could the 2 governments not accept?
-They could not accept this change as a basis for peace as they could not be seen to take this from the Nationalist leaders and so drafted up the Downing Street Declaration in December 1993
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What did the Declaration entail?
-Westminster agreed to uphold the democratic wish of the majority in NI on whether they wanted the union to remain or a united Ireland. -Dublin agreed that a united Ireland had to be the result of majority consent in NI.
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What did the Declaration entail? (Cont.)
-Dublin also accepted that parts of its 1937 Constitution were unacceptable to unionists and agreed to make changes
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What were the different reactions to the Declaration?
-Sinn Fein argued that it still allowed Unionists a veto over its exercise -The UUP liked parts but weren't happy with it's 'green tinge' -The DUP claimed it was yet another step towards a united Ireland -Unionists in general were unpersuaded
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What happened on 31 Aug 1994?
With careful explanation from Irish govt. representatives, the PIRA were able to announce the 'complete cessation of military operations'. They warned that SF would have to be included in the talks process
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What were the reactions to the PIRA ceasefire?
-Albert Reynolds publicly shook hands with Gerry Adams. A month later, Dublin announced a Forum of Peace and Reconciliation, to be attended by all parties
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What were the reactions to the PIRA ceasefire? (Cont.)
-In early December, 9 PIRA inmates were released on license -President Clinton allowed Adams into the US and organised conferences -However, London said they wanted to hear the word 'permanent' in connection with the ceasefire and needed time
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Why did the Dublin part of the support network crumble?
-In December 1994, the Fianna Fail govt. was replaced by a Fine Gael one and the Taoiseach was not known for his love of Republicanism
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When did the Loyalists ceasefire begin?
It began 6 weeks later on 13th October 1994. By the end of 1994 the PUP and UDP were engaged in discussion with the London government
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What were the Framework Documents?
In February 1995 the London and Dublin govts. published the Framework Documents. The first outlined Britain's proposals, including: -a 90 member assembly with similar powers to powersharing -protections for the Nationalist minority
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What were the Framework Documents? (Cont.)
The second was focused on self-determination, consent and non-violence. It proposed: -the establishment of some form of North-South body-that relations between Britain and Ireland would be underpinned by structures similar to those established of AIA
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What were the reactions to the Framework Documents?
-Unionists saw too many similarities to Sunningdale and hated the possibility of the development of North-South links into some form of institution with executive powers
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What were the reactions to the Framework Documents? (Cont.)
-Sinn Fein argued that the documents provided mechanisms by which Unionists could veto progress -Only the Alliance and SDLP reacted positively
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Why did the ceasefire collapse?
-The lack of face-to-face talks between the British govt. and Republicans began to impact on the peace process. -The main problem was decommissioning, which for the PIRA meant defeat and surrender -It began to plan to return to military operations
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What did the Mitchell Commission do?
Unaware of PIRA frustration, the Mitchell commission reported its finding in early 1996 and suggested the handover of weapons in parallel with peace talks. It also proposed principles of non-violence for all parties to sign up to
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What other obstacles were there?
-The decision to hold elections to a Peace forum as a way of providing a mandate for the participants -The collapse of the PIRA ceasefire in Feb 1996, which was proof for all the doubters that this had simply been a tactic
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Why were the PIRA unhappy?
They blamed the British govt.'s reluctance to move the peace process forward for the decision to return to violence. -Unionists supported the Forumplan but Nationalists were furious. They saw it as yet another stalling exercise
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Why was the British govt. slow at moving the peace process forward?
The new conservative government had a small majority and so John Major relied upon the support of Unionist MPs and could only push the process forward at a pace at which they were comfortable
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what were the election results?
- Support for the DUP and Sinn Fein both increased - Both the UDP and PUP won seats, which meant they would be able to attend peace talks -Peace talks finally began in June but SF was not present as there was no PIRA ceasefire
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Card 2

Front

What did Sinn Fein publish in 1992?

Back

They published 'Towards a lasting peace', a document which outlined that there was a reduction of the Republican movement's emphasis on armed struggle. Instead it focused on the concept of 'self-determination' (NI people should control their future)

Card 3

Front

What did Peter Brooke, the Secretary of State do?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What did Peter Brooke, the Secretary of State do? (Cont.)

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What did Peter Brooke, the Secretary of State do? (Cont..)

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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