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SECRET
UMENT IS T H E P R O P E R T Y O F H E R B R I T A N N I C
MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT
COPY
NO
ons CABINET
CONCLUSIONS
of a M e e t i n g of the Cabinet
h e l d a t 10 D o w n i n g S t r e e t o n THURSDAY
30 A U G U S T
1979
at 10. 30 a m
P R E S E N T The Rt Hon Margaret Thatcher Prime on W i l l i a m W h i t e l a w
MP
y of State f o r t h e H o m e
MP
Minister The Rt Hon L o r d Carrington
Department
S e c r e t a r y of State for F o r e i g n a n d
Commonwealth
jOnSir G e o f f r e y H o w e Q C
M P
Affairs
The Rt Hon Sir Keith Joseph
Or of the E x c h e q u e r
S e c r e t a r y of State f o r
on F r a n c i s P y m
The Rt Hon L o r d
' of State f o r
M P
Defence
i James P r i o r of State f o r
M P
on Peter W a l k e r of A g r i c u l t u r e ,
The Rt Hon Michael Heseltine
M P
The Rt Hon Nicholas Edwards
of State f o r
The Rt Hon Patrick Jenkin
Ireland
T h e Rt Hon David Howell S e c r e t a r y of State for T h e Rt Hon Angus
Treasury
Paymaster
SECRET
MP
S e c r e t a r y of State for S o c i a l S e r v i c e s
Trade MP
MP
Wales
MP
* John B i f f e n fetary,
S e c r e t a r y of State for
MP
of State f o r N o r t h e r n
MP
S e c r e t a r y of State for the E n v i r o n m e n t
of State f o r S c o t l a n d
on John N o t t
MP
L o r d P r i v y Seal
M P
Humphrey A t k i n s
Council
T h e R t H o n S i r Ian G i i m o u r
Fisheries
' George Y o u n g e r
Soames
L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the
Employment
MP
Industry
Maude
General
MP
Energy
MP
169
SECRET
THE FOLLOWING rlan P e r c i v a l QC
WERE ALSO
MP
PRESENT
The Rt Hon Michael Jopling
licitor G e n e r a l
Parliamentary
Secretary,
MP Treasury
em 1) SECRETARIAT Mr
M D M F r a n k l i n (Items
1-3)
Mr
P
L e C h e m i n a n t (Items
4-7)
Mr R Mr
L
Wade-Gery
P J Fowler
Mr G D Miles
(Items 1 and (Items
2)
4-7)
C O N T E N T S Subject
Page
NORTHERN IRELAND FOREIGN
1
AFFAIRS
Rhodesia
1
Sporting Relations Transfer
with South A f r i c a
of A i r S e r v i c e s f r o m
to G a t w i c k COMMUNITY REVIEW
2
O F QUANGOS
3
COURTS
STAFF
Pay Dispute INDUSTRIAL ECONOMIC
Heathrow
2
AFFAIRS
MAGISTRATES'
1
4
CIVIL SERVICE PAY P R O S P E C T S
5 7
ii
SECRET
170
CONFIDENTIAL
I,
T h e C a b i n e t ' s d i s c u s s i o n a-id the c o n c l u s i o n s r e a c h e d
recorded
2.
are
separately.
T H E FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY
said
that i n v i t a t i o n s to the C o n s t i t u t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e due to o p e n i n L o n d o n o n 10 S e p t e m b e r Bishop Muzorewa
had been accepted by
a n d the P a t r i o t i c F r o n t ,
rejected our constitutional outline. d e l e g a t i o n o f 12 m e m b e r s
both
although the latter
had
E a c h side would be allowed a
of i t s own c h o o s i n g .
We
were i n touch
with P r e s i d e n t N y e r e r e of T a n z a n i a and P r e s i d e n t K a u n d a of 3th
Zambia,
ons
our p o l i c y of settling the constitution before c o n s i d e r i n g the problems
who w e r e c o n t i n u i n g to p l a y a h e l p f u l r o l e a n d a g r e e d w i t h of transition.
w e r e lobbying t h e m and
We
attending next w e e k ' s H a v a n a C o n f e r e n c e of the
others
Non-Aligned
Movement against any action there which might u n d e r m i n e a g r e e m e n t r e a c h e d at t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h H e a d s o f Meeting i n Lusaka.
Our
the
Government
e m i s s a r y to t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n
Government
h a d f o u n d t h e m c r i t i c a l of o u r p o l i c y but n o t d i s p o s e d to t r y t o w r e c k the Constitutional C o n f e r e n c e . was THE
giving us full
T h e United States
Government
support.
P R I M E MINISTER,
d i m m i n g up a short d i s c u s s i o n ,
said that
while t h e c h a n c e s o f r e a c h i n g a g r e e m e n t a l l r o u n d at the C o n s t i t u t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e w e r e n o t g o o d we
should be well
placed
to c o n v i n c e m o d e r a t e i n t e r n a t i o n a l o p i n i o n t h a t a n y b r e a k d o w n the fault of o u r opponents.
i n B i s h o p M u z o r e w a ' s delegation had been a m a t t e r for the but m i g h t n o t be a l t o g e t h e r u n w e l c o m e
Bishop
to t h e P a t r i o t i c F r o n t .
R e a c t i o n s to t h e L u s a k a a g r e e m e n t a m o n g the G o v e r n m e n t supporters
had not been unsatisfactory;
but steps
1
s
should be taken
by t h e C h i e f W h i p to d i s c o u r a g e p o t e n t i a l l y d a m a g i n g
contacts
duting the L o n d o n Conference between backbench M e m b e r s P a r l i a m e n t and m e m b e r s
THE
PRIME MINISTER
was
T h e d e c i s i o n to i n c l u d e M r Ian S m i t h
of B i s h o p M u z o r e w a ' s
s a i d that she had been
of
team.
s u r p r i s e d by the
s t a t e m e n t a t t r i b u t e d to t h e P a r l i a m e n t a r y U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y
of State,
D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e E n v i r o n m e n t o n 29 A u g u s t a b o u t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y that the p r o p o s e d South A f r i c a n r u g b y t o u r s h o u l d be c a n c e l l e d o n grounds
connected with the M o s c o w
important,
Olympics.
i n this as i n a l l other contexts,
G e n e r a l a n d h e r s e l f to be i n f o r m e d i n a d v a n c e statements l i a b l e to c a u s e p u b l i c c o n t r o v e r s y . laid down i n paragraph
It w a s
for the
extremely
Paymaster
of M i n i s t e r i a l T h i s was
clearly
95 of the m e m o r a n d u m on P r o c e d u r e
s h e h a d c i r c u l a t e d o n 2 4 M a y ( C ( P ) ( 7 9 ) 1). 1
CONFIDENTIAL
which
CONFIDENTIAL
THE
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE
overcrowding
at H e a t h r o w
was
s a i d that the p r o b l e m
becoming acute.
He would
of
be
bringing the question of a t h i r d L o n d o n a i r p o r t before Cabinet i n the a u t u m n .
But i t was m e a n w h i l e
relieve congestion by t r a n s f e r r i n g to G a t w i c k ,
e s s e n t i a l to take steps
as he had warned m e m b e r s
of the
P o l i c y C o m m i t t e e i n a l e t t e r of 26 J u l y . with r e g r e t that t h e r e was
Defence
He had now
no a c c e p t a b l e
between L o n d o n and Spain and P o r t u g a l .
and
a l t e r n a t i v e to
the actual t r a n s f e r s
so and
Spaniards
would not take p l a c e until
and Portuguese,
the
e v e n t h o u g h t h e r e was to
no d i s c r i m i n a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e i r a i r l i n e s a n d t h e e q u i v a l e n t Airways
services.
H e was
s a t i s f i e d that they c o u l d not
c o m p e l u s to h o l d a p u b l i c e n q u i r y . against B r i t i s h a i r l i n e s .
It w o u l d a l s o b e n e c e s s a r y t o
with the C h i n e s e ,
retaliate refuse was
who m i g h t r a i s e the m a t t e r
d u r i n g P r i m e M i n i s t e r H u a ' s v i s i t l a t e r i n the The Cabinet
This
be
British
legally
But they might well
p e r m i s s i o n for a n y new a i r l i n e s to u s e H e a t h r o w . causing problems
soon
of due enquiry into
T h e r e would be a v e r y h o s t i l e r e a c t i o n f r o m
Canadians,
Oversea
He would therefore
be a n n o u n c i n g the s t a r t of t h e r e q u i r e d p r o c e s s 1980-81.
Heathrow
concluded
transferring m o s t services between London and Canada
this proposal;
to
certain services from
year.
-
Took note.
3.
T H E FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY
our i n f o r m a t i o n s u g g e s t e d that the e a r l y drafts of the reference
paper
on the financial i m b a l a n c e s
within the
said
Commissions Community
would c o n f i r m that the U n i t e d K i n g d o m w o u l d be b y f a r the l a r g e s t net c o n t r i b u t o r to the C o m m u n i t y B u d g e t .
While its treatment
monetary compensatory amounts and certain f o r m s was not e n t i r e l y s a t i s f a c t o r y ,
i t was
probably
of
as favourable
document f r o m our point of v i e w as c o u l d be expected.
of
expenditure It
a was
still subject to d i s c u s s i o n by the C o m m i s s i o n . H e further r e p o r t e d that the M i n i s t e r of T r a n s p o r t h a d r e c e n t l y written to c o l l e a g u e s
about the r e s u l t s of h i s consultations on the
i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the E u r o p e a n E c o n o m i c C o m m u n i t y on the u s e of t a c h o g r a p h s i n c o m m e r c i a l v e h i c l e s . unpopular
regulation
T h i s would
but t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e E u r o p e a n C o u r t left u s w i t h no
choice.
2
CONFIDENTIAL
be
CONFIDENTIAL
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EMPLOYMENT way of i m p l e m e n t a t i o n n e e d e d c a r e f u l w i s h to h a v e f u r t h e r and, i f n e c e s s a r y ,
s a i d that the
consideration and he
d i s c u s s i o n s with the M i n i s t e r of
would
Transport
i n the relevant M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e .
T h e Cabinet
-
T o o k note.
T H E PRIME MINISTER
4.
s a i d that she was
r e v i e w of the future of Quangos vigorously.
A lot of g r o u n d w o r k
n e e d e d to be m a i n t a i n e d .
anxious that the
s h o u l d c o n t i n u e to be p r e s s e d h a d b e e n done but the
was that,
after
facts was
completed,
Pliatzky
T h e intention
a short p e r i o d d u r i n g which the c o l l e c t i o n of he would choose the m o s t
candidates for detailed e x a m i n a t i o n and r e p o r t . be c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e f u t u r e a r r a n g e m e n t s accountability of Quangos of body.
momentum
She had now appointed S i r L e o
to a s s i s t i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e n e x t s t a g e o f t h e r e v i e w .
for
ahead
basic
promising He would
also
ensuring the
w h i c h m i g h t h a v e to differ
A l l M i n i s t e r s should ensure that S i r L e o
proper
between types Pliatsky
r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e i r D e p a r t m e n t s the m a x i m u m d e g r e e of c o - o p e r a t i o n i n this work and that opportunities for Quangos
were taken wherever
possible.
M i n i s t e r s w e r e a l r e a d y p l a n n i n g to a b o l i s h Q u a n g o s defer
a c t i o n w h i l e t h e review
e x e r c i s e was
was i n p r o g r e s s .
not s i m p l y to r e d u c e the n u m b e r
tackle the big spenders The Cabinet
reducing
In a n y c a s e s
where
they should not
T h e a i m of the of Q u a n g o s
w i t h a v i e w to r e d u c i n g staffs
but to
and total
costs.
-
Took note.
3
CONFIDENTIAL
173
CONFIDENTIAL
RATES' STAFF
5.
T H E HOME SECRETARY
s a i d that a settlement h a d
r e a c h e d i n r e s p e c t of the p a y of the staff of M a g i s t r a t e s '
o u t s i d e Inner L o n d o n but that w i t h i n L o n d o n t h e C o u r t staff r e f u s i n g to settle,
T h e y had now begun i n d u s t r i a l action i n T h e C o u r t s w e r e m a n a g i n g to d e a l
support of this c l a i m .
but i f the d i s p u t e c o n t i n u e d a b a c k l o g
inevitably buildup.
T h e r e could also be i n c r e a s i n g
maintenance allowances.
Nevertheless
difficulty
a n d no o p t i o n for the G o v e r n m e n t
The Cabinet
i n f o r m e d of
-
T o o k note.
4
CONFIDENTIAL
of
he c o u l d see no b a s i s
t r e a t i n g the I n n e r L o n d o n staff o n a d i f f e r e n t footing f r o m He would keep colleagues
with
would
i n other a r e a s of the work of the C o u r t s l i k e the p a y m e n t
outside London,
were
c l a i m i n g that t h e i r p a y s h o u l d be l i n k e d to that
of the C i v i l S e r v i c e . priority cases,
been
Courts
but to stand
developments.
for
those firm.
SECRET
6.
T H E LORD PRESIDENT
OF T H E COUNCIL
negotiations had been i n p r o g r e s s 'cE P A Y
unions,
said that
with the i n d u s t r i a l C i v i l
Service
on the b a s i s a g r e e d by the M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e
E c o n o m i c Strategy,
on
Sub-Committee on Economic Affairs.
u n w i l l i n g to a c c e p t the p r o p o s e d
The
but w e r e
unions h a d a c c e p t e d the s i z e of the p r o p o s e d i n c r e a s e s ,
staging of t h e i r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n ,
w h i c h h a d b e e n c h o s e n to be no m o r e f a v o u r a b l e
than that
e a r l i e r i n the y e a r to the n o n - i n d u s t r i a l C i v i l S e r v i c e .
given Any
d e p a r t u r e f r o m that p o s i t i o n c o u l d be r e p e r c u s s i v e f o r o t h e r e. g . t e a c h e r s ,
s a w n o a l t e r n a t i v e b u t to s t a n d f i r m .
Industrial action was
now
t h r e a t e n e d and w o u l d no doubt be p l a n n e d to e x e r t as m u c h as p o s s i b l e
on sensitive areas,
In d i s c u s s i o n i t was
s u c h as the Defence
pressure
programme.
a r g u e d that the t h r e a t e n e d i n d u s t r i a l a c t i o n
w o u l d be d a m a g i n g to t h e d e f e n c e p r o g r a m m e flexibility i n negotiations
and that
some
c o u l d be j u s t i f i e d on t h i s s c o r e .
widely i t was
a r g u e d that i n these,
negotiations,
as i n other public
the e x i s t e n c e of a single national
c o u l d m a k e i t p a r t i c u l a r l y d i f f i c u l t to r e a c h a n settlement.
groups
as w e l l as for the n o n - i n d u s t r i a l C i v i l S e r v i c e and he
Local management
More
sector
negotiation appropriate
h a d no p a r t i n t h e
negotiations,
n o r any r e a l i n c e n t i v e to c o m m u n i c a t e with t h e i r staff o n the r e a l i t i e s of wage bargaining.
P r i v a t e i n d u s t r y was
f r o m the concept of c e n t r a l i s e d negotiation, approach.
The Government,
too,
advantages
i n i t s own
activities and i n other public service areas,
London magistrates
courts,
where it had statutory or
greater staff
H k e the
financial
responsibilities.
T h e a i m s h o u l d be f o r t h e G o v e r n m e n t to
its role,
possible,
wherever
to the s e t t i n g of a s u i t a b l e
within which individual managers THE
P R I M E MINISTER,
away
local
should consider whether
u s e of l o c a l negotiations m i g h t offer management
moving
to a m o r e
could take their
confine
framework
decisions.
s u m m i n g up the d i s c u s s i o n ,
C a o i n e t w e r e a g r e e d that the C i v i l S e r v i c e D e p a r t m e n t
s a i d that the should stick
to i t s g u n s i n t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s o n t h e p a y o f i n d u s t r i a l c i v i l
servants.
T h e d i s c u s s i o n had however also r a i s e d wide ranging i s s u e s negotiating m a c h i n e r y i n the public s e r v i c e s and r e l a t e d of c a s h l i m i t s .
T h e C h a n c e l l o r of the E x c h e q u e r i n consultation
with the L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the C o u n c i l and other M i n i s t e r s appropriate
s h o u l d a r r a n g e f o r t h e s e to be c o n s i d e r e d b y
of D e p a r t m e n t s
concerned and should then submit a paper
c o n s i d e r a t i o n by colleagues i n the existing s y s t e m s for groups,
about
questions
d i s c u s s i n g the d e s i r a b i l i t y of
as
officials for changes
settling the p a y of suitable p u b l i c
i n the light of the G o v e r n m e n t ' s
evolving policies for
sector cash
limits.
5
SECRET
175
SECRET
The Cabinet T o o k note,
with approval,
of t h e s u m m i n g u p
of t h e i r d i s c u s s i o n by the P r i m e
Minister,
and i n v i t e d the C h a n c e l l o r of the
Exchequer
and the L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the C o u n c i l to guided
accordingly.
6
SECRET
be
CONFIDENTIAL
THE
7.
CHANCELLOR OF T H E EXCHEQUER
economic prospects
were depressing
on a national l e v e l .
and
also
T h e r e were however some encouraging
that the G o v e r n m e n t ' s effect.
said that
both w o r l d wide
signs
m o n e t a r y p o l i c i e s w e r e b e g i n n i n g to t a k e
It w o u l d b e v e r y i m p o r t a n t t h a t a l l M i n i s t e r s s h o u l d h e l p
to r e i n f o r c e t h e m e s s a g e t h a t p a y s e t t l e m e n t s m u s t b e e a r n e d , w e r e not for
example
and
an entitlement because p r i c e s had r i s e n .
H e w o u l d h i m s e l f be s t r e s s i n g i n f o r t h c o m i n g s p e e c h e s that t h e action of s o m e t r a d e u n i o n s w e r e d e s t r o y i n g the jobs of t h e i r members. THE
P R I M E MINISTER,
specific examples
s u m m i n g up a b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n ,
m e s s a g e a c r o s s to the p u b l i c , of c a s e s
and wherever M i n i s t e r s w e r e
where jobs w e r e being lost as a r e s u l t of excessive
demands,
or of union intransigence,
i n f o r m a t i o n to c o l l e a g u e s ,
they should
The Cabinet
circulate
-
T o o k note of the s u m m i n g up of t h e i r by the P r i m e M i n i s t e r , to be g u i d e d
1979
7
CONFIDENTIAL
discussion
and invited all
accordingly.
Office
30 A u g u s t
aware pay
so that t h i s c o u l d be u s e d i n M i n i s t e r i a l
speeches.
Cabinet
s a i d that "
w e r e p a r t i c u l a r l y v a l u a b l e i n h e l p i n g to get t h e
Ministers
SECRET
UMENT IS T H E P R O P E R T Y O F H E R B R I T A N N I C
MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT
17 COPY
NO
CABINET
LIMITED
CIRCULATION
C C ( 7 9 ) 14th C o n c l u s i o n s ,
ANNEX Minute 1
T h u r s d a y 30 A u g u s t 1979 a t 1 0 . 30
N
am
T h e Cabinet had before t h e m a joint m e m o r a n d u m by the of State for
Northern Ireland
Secretary
a n d the S e c r e t a r y of State for
( C ( 7 9 ) 34) o n N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d
Defence
security.
THE SECRETARY O F STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
s a i d that
the G o v e r n m e n t ' s
extension
a i m was the defeat of t e r r o r i s m and the
of n o r m a l p o l i c i n g . o f 18 s o l d i e r s
T h e e v e n t s o f 27 A u g u s t ,
and the a s s a s s i n a t i o n of L o r d Mountbatten,
the S e c r e t a r y of State for D e f e n c e proposals
involving the death
a n d h i m s e l f to b r i n g
had led
forward
for i m m e d i a t e a c t i o n on two questions w h i c h had
been
concerning them since taking office.
T h e s e w e r e h o w to
the d i r e c t i o n a n d c o - o r d i n a t i o n of o u r
s e c u r i t y operations i n the
Province;
a n d h o w to o b t a i n m o r e
f r o m the I r i s h R e p u b l i c . proposal was Ireland.
co-operation in security matters
O n the f i r s t question their
T h i s would be r e s p o n s i b l e
to h i m s e l f ;
between the viewpoints
Constabulary (RUC)
and effectiveness
Northern
would operate
a n d w o u l d be d e s i g n e d to r e c o n c i l e
which inevitably arose Royal Ulster
agreed
for a new h i g h - l e v e l S e c u r i t y D i r e c t o r a t e i n
a 24-hour basis;
manpower
improve
on
differences
and m e t h o d s of the
a n d the A r m y .
had been transformed
RUC
morale,
since they had
regained p r i m a r y responsibility for the prevention and detection of a l l c r i m e .
T h i s was
not b e j e o p a r d i s e d
an i m p o r t a n t development which
since greater
RUC
should
strength offered the best
hope of a c h i e v i n g the d e s i r e d r e d u c t i o n o f A r m y i n v o l v e m e n t i n the security field. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE was b a s e d o n a g r e e m e n t
between the R U C and the A r m y ; of the n e w D i r e c t o r a t e .
T h e l a t t e r s h o u l d be a m a n of
Office.
1
SECRET
paper
co-ordination
a n d about the k e y r o l e of the
and s t a t u r e who was not a s e r v i n g the N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d
s a i d that the
about the need to i m p r o v e
head
seniority
soldier nor a civil servant
from
SECRET
THE
FOREIGN AND
there was
COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY
s a i d that
a m o o d of shame i n the Republic following
Mountbatten m u r d e r s .
It w a s t h e r e f o r e
the
a good m o m e n t for
the
P r i m e M i n i s t e r to m a k e a d e t e r m i n e d effort i n t a l k s with the Irish P r i m e Minister,
L y n c h (who
Mr
to u s t h a n h i s l i k e l y s u c c e s s o r ) ,
co-operation i n security matters. requirements i n this area him.
But the r e s o u r c e s
was
much less
unsympathetic
to b r i n g h o m e t h e i m p o r t a n c e A
full l i s t of our
s h o u l d be p r e p a r e d a n d p u t to a v a i l a b l e to h i m w e r e l i m i t e d a n d
should not be too o p t i m i s t i c about h i s l i k e l y r e s p o n s e . inadequate asked
we
of
we
If i t
was
s h o u l d not h e s i t a t e to r e v e a l p u b l i c l y what we
had
for.
In d i s c u s s i o n t h e r e w a s
general agreement
need was to seek g r e a t e r
that our m o s t
co-operation f r o m the Irish
a n d to p u b l i c i s e the fact that we w e r e d o i n g s o . difficulties facing our
security forces
T h e two
main
w e r e the existence of
h a v e n s i n the R e p u b l i c a n d t h e l a c k of i n t e l l i g e n c e f r o m the b o r d e r .
important
Government
If t h e I r i s h G o v e r n m e n t p r o v e d u n w i l l i n g t o
we w o u l d n e e d t o c o n s i d e r
s u c h m e a n s as we h a d of
safe
south of co-operate,
bringing
p r e s s u r e to b e a r o n t h e m .
B r i t i s h p u b l i c opinion m i g h t not
a v e r s e to u s i n g p r e s s u r e .
B u t i t would be r i g h t f i r s t to t r y to
persuade
Mr
L y n c h of our c o m m o n i n t e r e s t i n defeating
A s r e g a r d s the p r o p o s e d S e c u r i t y D i r e c t o r a t e , about t h e d a n g e r
terrorism.
s o m e doubt was
Northern Ireland's
T h e S e c r e t a r y of State
position might appear
opinion might r e g a r d organisational r e s p o n s e to the p r e s e n t c r i s i s ;
to be u n d e r m i n e d ;
changes
as an
results.
The basic
s e e m e d to be a d i f f e r e n c e i n d i a g n o s i s b e t w e e n the C h i e f Commanding (GOC)
Constable
A g a i n s t that i t was
u r g e d that the
c o u l d s e r v e to show that the G o v e r n m e n t
awaiting the next
less
Directorate
i f p r o p e r l y p r e s e n t e d with stress on its
s e e k i n g to i m p r o v e the s e c u r i t y
In f u r t h e r
new round-theĀ
were
actively
effort r a t h e r than p a s s i v e l y
tragedy.
d i s c u s s i o n i t was
n o t e d that the q u a l i t y of the A r m y ' s
l e a d e r s h i p m i g h t be s o m e w h a t
better than the R U C s ;
that
e x t e n s i v e f u r t h e r r e c r u i t i n g f o r t h e R U C m i g h t be no e a s i e r police recruiting i n Britain; an adequately
enlarged R U C
could i n t i m e r e l i e v e the A r m y
almost all its security duties. system,
If h o w e v e r i t p r o v e d
SECRET
view
of
impossible of the
i t m i g h t i n the end be n e c e s s a r y to
2
than
but that i n the C h i e f C o n s t a b l e ' s
to b r i n g t e r r o r i s m u n d e r c o n t r o l w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k existing legal
new
trouble
a n d the A r m y who w e r e
and i t would be difficult for the h e a d of the
to b r i d g e t h i s g a p . clock role,
public
who felt the s i t u a t i o n to be s l o w l y i m p r o v i n g , a n d the
General Officer
Directorate,
for
inadequate
a n d c r e d i t m i g h t be l o s t i f the
s y s t e m f a i l e d to p r o d u c e m e a s u r a b l e
sanguine;
felt
of a p p o i n t i n g too e m i n e n t a m a n to h e a d i t a n d
giving the m a t t e r too m u c h p u b l i c i t y .
and the R U C ,
be
modify
SECRET
the s y s t e m a n d p e r h a p s
even m o v e towards the introduction of
m a r t i a l law i n a r e a s of p a r t i c u l a r t e r r o r i s t activity.
The
g r o w i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m of the I r i s h R e p u b l i c a n A r m y (IRA) the h i g h l e v e l of c a s u a l t i e s i n the s e c u r i t y f o r c e s f o r w h i c h r a d i c a l c o u n t e r - a c t i o n m i g h t w e l l be T H E P R I M E MINISTER,
factors
required.
s u m m i n g up the d i s c u s s i o n ,
Cabinet a g r e e d that she s h o u l d i n v i t e M r
and
were new
said the
L y n c h for talks i n London
at t h e t i m e o f L o r d M o u n t b a t t e n ' s f u n e r a l .
She would a r r a n g e
the i n v i t a t i o n to be i s s u e d a n d a n n o u n c e d f o r t h w i t h .
for
The Foreign
and C o m m o n w e a l t h S e c r e t a r y i n consultation with the S e c r e t a r y of State f o r N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d a n d the S e c r e t a r y of State f o r s h o u l d p r e p a r e a l i s t o f r e q u i r e m e n t s to be p u t to h i m , would be m a d e p u b l i c i f he failed to r e s p o n d . and C o m m o n w e a l t h S e c r e t a r y , as a p p r o p r i a t e ,
which
The Foreign
i n consultation with other M i n i s t e r s
should take all possible
steps to e n s u r e that t h r o u g h
t h e m e d i a we m a i n t a i n e d m a x i m u m p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r e s s u r e Irish Government.
Defence
T h e S e c r e t a r y of State for N o r t h e r n
on the
Ireland
s h o u l d a r r a n g e f o r a n i m m e d i a t e a n n o u n c e m e n t to be m a d e a b o u t extra r e c r u i t m e n t for the R U C . Security D i r e c t o r a t e was
T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the
agreed.
p u b l i c i s e i t s h o u l d n o t be t a k e n u n t i l we k n e w who i t s h e a d be.
new
But a d e c i s i o n on how far
T h i s would be d e c i d e d by the S e c r e t a r y o f State for
to
would
Northern
Ireland and the S e c r e t a r y of State for Defence i n consultation with herself.
M e a n w h i l e the S e c r e t a r y of State for N o r t h e r n
Ireland
s h o u l d b r i n g f o r w a r d e a r l y p r o p o s a l s f o r a p o l i t i c a l i n i t i a t i v e to i n c r e a s e d e m o c r a t i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the p r o c e s s e s of
government
i n the P r o v i n c e ;
Defence
should,
and he and the S e c r e t a r y of State for
i n consultation with the L a w O f f i c e r s ,
arrange for
r e v i e w of the " Y e l l o w C a r d " r e s t r i c t i o n s on the u s e of by m e m b e r s
of the s e c u r i t y
The Cabinet
a
firearms
forces.
-
T o o k note with a p p r o v a l of the P r i m e
Minister's
s u m m i n g up of their d i s c u s s i o n s and i n v i t e d the F o r e i g n and C o m m o n w e a l t h S e c r e t a r y ,
the
S e c r e t a r y of State for N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d and the S e c r e t a r y of State for D e f e n c e t o be
guided
accordingly.
Cabinet
Office
30 A u g u s t 1979
3
SECRET
180