09.12.1992
Memo from Graham Archer a British official in the Foreign Office, Republic of Ireland Department, to D.A. Cooke an official in the Northern Ireland Office, Catalogue ref: FCO 87/3596
Transcript
From: Graham Archer. Republic of Ireland Department
Date: 9 December 1992
CC: Mr Thomas, Mr Bell, Mr Brooker
Mr D A Cooke
TPU, NIO – B
Brief for Prime Ministers telephone conversation with President Elect Clinton
1. We have been asked for a note by tomorrow morning to include in a short brief.
2. Are you content with the following:
Northern Ireland
President-elect Clinton’s closest foreign policy advisers have told our Ambassador
that we should not take too seriously statements made by him to Irish-American
audiences during the election campaign. These included comment that a US envoy
could be a catalyst for peace, on possible support for the MacBride principles that
impose conditions on investment in Northern Ireland, a visa for Gerry Adams, and
the “wanton use of lethal force.”
We see no need for the Prime Minister to enter into any detail on Northern Ireland
with Governor Clinton. But the Prime Minister may wish to play up our concern in a
low key on the following lines:-
– We hope to restart the Northern Ireland Talks process shortly;
– We place great importance on this process. It needs careful handling and we shall
need continuing American support for it. I look forward to having a fuller word about
this when we meet.
G R Archer