Source 1 - Record of a meeting 7 May 1997

Part of a record of a meeting on 7 May 1997 between the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Jeffrey Donaldson, of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). Catalogue Ref: PREM 49/108

Context notes

This document was a record of a meeting between the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Jeffrey Donaldson, of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). Blair had only just won the UK election on May 1st. All sides were anxious to see whether the new government would maintain the same position as the previous Conservative government or whether Blair would take a different approach.

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Transcript

 

10 DOWNING STREET
LONDON SWIA 2AA
From the Private Secretary
7 May 1997

 

Dear Ken

CALL BY THE UUP, 7 MAY

The Prime Minister decided that, before he saw the Taoiseach, he would like to touch base in person with David Trimble. Trimble therefore called on the Prime Minister in the House of Commons for 10 minutes this afternoon, accompanied by Geoffrey Donaldson. Jonathan Powell and I were there on our side.

Trimble began by thanking the Prime Minister for seeing him. This would be an important signal to the Unionist community. The Prime Minister said that in the ideal world he would not have been seeing the Taoiseach so soon, but he was in town anyway and a meeting could hardly be avoided. Trimble accepted this. But the Irish were busy trying to make something of the meeting and giving the impression that things were being done behind the backs of others.

The Prime Minister said that his aim was to sort out the Northern Ireland problem. He had no predilection whatsoever for a united Ireland, and he would want to find the right way of making this clear in due course. Trimble welcomed this. There was considerable nervousness on doorsteps in Belfast about the views of the new government.

 

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Questions

Content

  1. Why was Trimble thanking Blair?
  2. What were Blair’s views on the Northern Ireland situation?

Inferences from the content

  1. What can be inferred about Trimble’s concerns at this point?

Inferences from the context

  1. Can anything be inferred about the actions of the Irish government at this time?
  2. Can anything be inferred from the fact that the meeting took place at all?

Lines of Argument

  1. Which historian could use this document as supporting evidence?