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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