TNA Catalogue Ref: PREM 49/412
Office of the Independent Chairmen
Castle Buildings Stormont Belfast BT4 3SG Northern Ireland
Telephone 01232 522957 Facsimile 01232 768905
April 30, 1998
The Rt Hon Mr Tony Blair, MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
LONDON SW1A 2AA
Dear Prime Minister,
It was a pleasure to work with you in the multi-party negotiations.
I am sure there were times when you felt discouraged and uncertain (as we all did), but in the end your commitment and perseverance prevailed.
I will always regard my participation in this process as one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done. In large part that was due to the warmth and courtesy with which I was treated by all of the participants.
With my gratitude and best wishes,
GEORGE J. MITCHELL
[handwritten] You demonstrated leadership of a rare and high quality, and you made this possible. The hand of history chose well!
Show slide 3 and hand out the introductory source TNA Ref PREM 49/412 – A letter form US Senator George Mitchell to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, April 1998.
Following the model taught in the previous lesson about the Downing Street Declaration ask students to analyse the source for Content, Context, Attitudes and How things work. Use slide 4 to help them.
Similarly show them the lists of names on the TNA Ref PREM 49.412 – Northern Ireland Letters of Congratulations from Heads of States and VIPs, (As of 27 April).
Discuss with students whether these documents prove that the Agreement was a success and why (or why not).
Complete this opening activity by discussing the following statements shown on slide 7 and deciding if you Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree or Strongly Disagree.
- The documents have proved to me that the Agreement was a success.
- They prove that many important politicians believed that the Agreement was a success.
- The documents actually prove that the Agreement was a failure.
- The documents don’t prove anything at all.
- The documents suggest the Agreement was a success but they do not prove it.
- It is a reasonable theory that the Agreement was a success but I would need more supporting
evidence to convince me.