secret secret

---

SECRET

THIS D O C U M E N T

C

C

3

9

t

IS T H E P R O P E R T Y

O F H E R BRITANNIC

MAJESTY'S

h

^ ) Conclusions

GOVERNMENT

COPY NO

-

{ JJ

n



CABINET

o f a M e e t i n g o f the

CONCLUSIONS

h e l d a t 10 D o w n i n g S t r e e t THURSDAY

on

3 D E C E M B E R

at 10.15

Cabinet

1981

am

PRESENT Rt H o n Margaret Thatcher

The

Prime

The

Rt Hon W i l l i a m Whitelaw

Secretary The

Rt Hon Lord

Secretary

The

The

The

The

M P

of State for E d u c a t i o n and

The

Rt Hon George

of State f o r

The

The

Food

of State f o r

The

M P

The

M P

The

Services

Lancaster

of State f o r

SECRET

Environment

Edwards

of State f o r

M P

MP

Wales

Rt Hon Patrick Jenkin M P of State f o r

Industry

Rt Hon David Howell of State for

M P

Transport

Rt Hon Leon Brittan Q C M P Treasury

Rt Hon Nigel Lawson M P of State for

Energy

Rt Hon Cecil Parkinson

Paymaster

Employment

Defence

o f S t a t e f o r the

Rt Hon Nicholas

Secretary The

Rt Hon N o r m a n Tebbit M P

M P

of State for

Chief Secretary, The

Young

M P

Council

Rt Hon Michael Heseltine

Secretary

M P

o f the

R t H o n John Nott

Secretary

Trade

of State f o r S o c i a l

Rt Hon Baroness

President

Secretary

Rt Hon Norman Fowler

Secretary

Exchequer

Rt Hon F r a n c i s P y m

Secretary The

Seal

C h a n c e l l o r o f the D u c h y o f The

and

Scotland

Rt Hon John Biffen

Secretary

Rt H o n Sir Geoffrey Howe Q C M P

Secretary

Ireland

M P

Rt Hon Humphrey Atkins

Secretary The

Younger

Lord The

M P

of State f o r N o r t h e r n

Lord Privy The

Science

Rt Hon Peter Walker M P

Secretary

Hailsahm

Chancellor

C h a n c e l l o r o f the

and

M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e , F i s h e r i e s

The

Rt H o n L o r d

Affairs

Rt Hon James P r i o r

Secretary

Lord The

Rt Hon Sir Keith Joseph

Secretary

Department

Carrington

of State f o r F o r e i g n

Commonwealth

The

M P

o f S t a t e f o r the H o m e

M P

Minister

General



MP

SECRET

ALSO The

PRESENT

Rt Hon Michael Jopling M P

Parliamentary Secretary,

Treasury

SECRETARIAT Sir

Robert Armstrong

Mr

M D M Franklin

(Items

2-4)

Mr

R L Wade-Gery

(Items

2-4)

Mr

D H J Hilary

(Item

1)

Mr

L J Harris

(Item

1)

C O N T E N T S Item 1.

2.

Subject

Page

P A R L I A M E N T A R Y AFFAIRS

1

Heavy Lorries

1

Canadian Constitution

1

Special Standing C o m m i t t e e s

2

FOREIGN

AFFAIRS



Spain

3

Arab/Israel

3

Angola

3

The

3

Seychelles

Sporting L i n k s with South A f r i c a 3.

COMMUNITY

AFFAIRS

26-27 November Special

10 D e c e m b e r 4.

NORTHERN

European Council

M e e t i n g of F o r e i g n A f f a i r s M i n i s t e r s

30 M a y 1980

4

4 on

Mandate

5

I n f o r m a l M e e t i n g of Industry M i n i s t e r s

IRELAND

5 6

ii

SECRET

CONFIDENTIAL

A

R

LIAMENTARY

FFAIRS

ea

vy L o r r i e s

1.

T h e C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d o f t h e b u s i n e s s to b e t a k e n i n t h e

H o u s e o f C o m m o n s d u r i n g the f o l l o w i n g

THE

PRIME MINISTER,

week.

s u m m i n g up a b r i e f discussion,

said

that

the C a b i n e t a g r e e d that the G o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d p u t d o w n a n e u t r a l amendment

to the O p p o s i t i o n m o t i o n o n h e a v y l o r r i e s f o r d e b a t e

o n W e d n e s d a y 9 D e c e m b e r , s u g g e s t i n g that i t w o u l d be a p p r o p r i a t e f o r the H o u s e

to c o n s i d e r

w e i g h t l i m i t to 40 t o n n e s w h e n r e a c t i o n s been

studied and consultations

recently issued completed.

more

the p r o p s s e d i n c r e a s e

o n the d r a f t a m e n d i n g

regulations

b y the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r T r a n s p o r t h a d

A l t h o u g h the O f f i c e r s o f the 1922

bringing f o r w a r d an O r d e r , W h i p that a n y a t t e m p t

if there was

the C a b i n e t n o t e d the a d v i c e o f the

B r i t i s h I n d u s t r y a n d the N a t i o n a l F a r m e r s ' U n i o n ,

both of w h a m

i n the w e i g h t l i m i t s ,

b e p e r s u a d e d p u b l i c l y to s u p p o r t the G o v e r n m e n t ' s

1.

Chief

future

was

It w o u l d b e h e l p f u l i f t h e C o n f e d e r a t i o n o f

u n d e r s t o o d to b e i n f a v o u r o f a n i n c r e a s e

The

supporters

any undue d e l a y i n

to f o r c e a d e c i s i o n i n the i m m e d i a t e

successful.

been

Committee

c o n s i d e r e d that o p p o s i t i o n a m o n g the G o v e r n m e n t ' s o w n to t h i s p r o p o s a l m i g h t i n c r e a s e

u n l i k e l y to b e

i n the

to t h e W h i t e P a p e r h a d

were

could

proposal.

Cabinet ­ I n v i t e d the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r T r a n s p o r t to

a r r a n g e f o r the t a b l i n g o f a G o v e r n m e n t a m e n d m e n t Opposition motion on heavy l o r r i e s ,

to

the

a n d to s e e k the p u b l i c

s u p p o r t o f the C o n f e d e r a t i o n o f B r i t i s h I n d u s t r y a n d the N a t i o n a l F a r m e r s ' U n i o n f o r the G o v e r n m e n t ' s

anadian onstitution

THE had

proposals.

L O R D P R I V Y S E A L s a i d that the C a n a d i a n H o u s e o f the p r e v i o u s d a y a p p r o v e d b y 246

v o t e s to 24 the

Commons

Joint

R e s o l u t i o n f o r a n A d d r e s s to T h e Q u e e n r e q u e s t i n g l e g i s l a t i o n

i n the

revious

U n i t e d K i n g d o m P a r l i a m e n t to p a t r i a t e the C a n a d i a n C o n s t i t u t i o n .

Terence:

The

C(81) 3 5 t h

and,

occlusions,

S e c r e t a r y w o u l d d e l i v e r t h e A d d r e s s to T h e Q u e e n ' s

inute 2

Secretary on Monday 7 D e c e m b e r .

Senate was

e x p e c t e d to a p p r o v e the R e s o l u t i o n l a t e r that w e e k

i f a l l w e n t a c c o r d i n g to p l a n ,

the G o v e r n o r G e n e r a l ' s

Private

Private

H e had circulated a draft reply

to the two r e p o r t s o f the S e l e c t C o m m i t t e e o n F o r e i g n A f f a i r s o n C a n a d i a n C o n s t i t u t i o n to m e m b e r s Committee and,

o f the D e f e n c e

and O v e r s e a

s u b j e c t to t h e i r a p p r o v a l , i n t e n d e d to p u b l i s h i t

towards

t h e e n d o f the f o l l o w i n g w e e k .

possible

f o r t h e C a n a d a B i l l to b e i n t r o d u c e d a t W e s t m i n s t e r

Christmas. towards

although some backbench m e m b e r s

t h e H o u s e w e r e e x p e c t e d to r a i s e Quebec,

H e h o p e d that i t w o u l d be

T h e official Opposition were adopting a relaxed

the B i l l ,

the

Policy

some objections

before attitude

on both sides of

of p r i n c i p l e .

the o n l y o n e o f the t e n P r o v i n c e s n o t to s u p p o r t the F e d e r a l

Government's proposals,

i n t e n d e d to s e e k a d e c l a r a t i o n f r o m the 1

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

S u p r e m e C o u r t o f C a n a d a that t h e y h a d a r i g h t of veto, of A l b e r t a Indians were

s e e k i n g l e a v e to c o m m e n c e

while a group

proceedings

the H i g h C o u r t i n L o n d o n f o r a n i n j u n c t i o n r e q u i r i n g the G o v e r n m e n t to h o n o u r w h a t w a s

c l a i m e d to b e t h e i r r e s i d u a l d u t y t o

p r o t e c t the r i g h t s o f the a b o r i g i n a l p e o p l e o f THE

LORD PRESIDENT

Canada.

O F T H E C O U N C I L s a i d that there w o u l d be

n o d i f f i c u l t y a b o u t i n t r o d u c i n g the B i l l b e f o r e remaining

Christmas.

s t a g e s o f the B i l l w o u l d be g i v e n p r i o r i t y .

The

He hoped

S e c o n d R e a d i n g c o u l d take p l a c e i n the w e e k b e g i n n i n g e i t h e r be g i v e n to the C a n a d i a n s at t h i s and

stage.

that

18 o r

2 5 J a n u a r y , , t h o u g h n o c o m m i t m e n t to a n y p a r t i c u l a r t i m e t a b l e Government's tactics

in

British

should

H e c o n s i d e r e d that the

s h o u l d b e to t r e a t t h e B i l l i n t h e n o r m a l w a y ,

to g i v e b o t h H o u s e s a d e q u a t e

time for consideration;

it m i g h t be

d e s i r a b l e f r O m t h i s p o i n t o f v i e w to a l l o w two d a y s f o r S e c o n d R e a d i n g i n the H o u s e o f C o m m o n s .

It s h o u l d b e m a d e

c l e a r to t h e C a n a d i a n s

that the G o v e r n m e n t c o u l d not c o m m i t t h e m s e l v e s to a p a r t i c u l a r date for

Royal Assent,

given deadline, Canada,

THE

a n d that a n y p u b l i c s t a t e m e n t s

suggesting

that a

s u c h a s the date f o r T h e Q u e e n ' s p r o p o s e d v i s i t

h a d to b e m e t w o u l d be

PRIME MINISTER,

to

counter-productive.

s u m m i n g u p the d i s c u s s i o n ,

C a b i n e t a g r e e d that the p r o p o s e d l e g i s l a t i o n o n the

said that

the

Canadian

C o n s t i t u t i o n s h o u l d be h a n d l e d i n the w a y r e c o m m e n d e d b y the L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the C o u n c i l .

T h e y n o t e d that the e a r l y d a y m o t i o n

i n the n a m e o f S i r B e r n a r d B r a i n e a g a i n s t the F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t ' s proposals was

attracting some suppoit,

a n d that t h e r e was

d a n g e r t h a t the L a b o u r P a r t y m i g h t b e t e m p t e d to u s e obstruct other Government

The

Took

Standing

M r Christopher Price,

Committees

answer

O F T H E C O U N C I L said

that

M P , had put down a Question for

written

o n F r i d a y 4 D e c e m b e r a s k i n g w h e t h e r h e i n t e n d e d to

p r o v i s i o n f o r the

T h e subject was

r a i s e d d u r i n g Q u e s t i o n s o n the b u s i n e s s

a l s o l i k e l y to b e

s t a t e m e n t that

afternoon.

i n t e n d e d t o s a y t h a t i t w a s n o t h i s p r e s e n t i n t e n t i o n to

the S t a n d i n g O r d e r

r e l a t i n g to S p e c i a l S t a n d i n g

reintroduce

Committees,

m a i n l y b e c a u s e n o n e o f the B i l l s i n the G o v e r n m e n t ' s p r o g r a m m e was

r e a l l y suitable for this p r o c e d u r e ,

legislative

b u t that he

be r e a d y to c o n s i d e r d o i n g so i f a p p r o p r i a t e B i l l s c o u l d be at a n y t i m e i n the

E n d o r s e d the l i n e « n the f u t u r e o f S p e c i a l

S t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e s p r o p o s e d b y the L o r d o f the

Council. 2

CONFIDENTIAL

would

identified

future.

Cabinet ­

3.

make

c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the S p e c i a l S t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e

p r o c e d u r e i n the c u r r e n t S e s s i o n .

The

to

note.

T H E LORD PRESIDENT

He

the B i l l

business.

Cabinet ­

2.

Special

still a

president

CONFIDENTIAL

OREIGN

2.

T H EFOREIGN

A N D C O M M O N W E A L T H SECRETARY

that the M i n i s t e r i a l M e e t i n g o f the N o r t h A t l a n t i c C o u n c i l

the

f o l l o w i n g w e e k w o u l d b e a s k e d to a p p r o v e S p a i n ' s a c c e s s i o n North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. m o s t m e m b e r s o f the A l l i a n c e ,

jam

possible r e

vioua

eference: C(8l)

29th

(inclusions, ;inute 2

to t h e

T h i s w o u l d be v e r y w e l c o m e

including Britain,

in this or other fields.

but it r e m a i n e d

c l e a r l y n o t g o i n g to b e a n e a s y p a r t n e r

M e a n w h i l e the S p a n i s h G o v e r n m e n t a p p e a r e d

to b e m a k i n g the n e c e s s a r y p h y s i c a l p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r the

reopening

t h e i r f r o n t i e r w i t h G i b r a l t a r a n d m i g h t w e l l w i s h to m a k e

a n n o u n c e m e n t o n the

subject before

the S p a n i s h P r i m e

p l a n n e d v i s i t toi B r i t a i n i n J a n u a r y 1 9 8 2 ,

T h i s was

an

Minister's

satisfactory,

a l t h o u g h the G i b r a l t a r i a n s t h e m s e l v e s m i g h t i n p r a c t i c e h a v e feelings

rab/Israel

T H E

to

t h a t d i f f i c u l t i e s m i g h t b e m a d e b y the n e w G r e e k G o v e r n m e n t

u n d e r M r P a p a n d r e o u , who was

of

said

mixed

w h e n the f r o n t i e r d i d r e o p e n .

FOREIGN

A N D C O M M O N W E A L T H SECRETARY

s a i d that the

U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d I s r a e l i G o v e r n m e n t s w e r e o n the p o i n t o f i s s u i n g a revious

joint statement

eference:

of

C(81) 3 8 t h

and

(inclusions,

p a r t i c i p a t e w o u l d s o f a r a s p o s s i b l e

!in»te 2

a b o u t the b a s i s f o r the e s t a b l i s h m e n t

and composition

the p r o p o s e d m u l t i n a t i o n a l f o r c e a n d o b s e r v e r s i n S i n a i . refrain from comment.

to

In

r e t r o s p e c t i t w a s p e r h a p s f o r t u n a t e t h a t t h e r e c e n t A r a b S u m m i t a t Fez

had collapsed,

since it would otherwise

h a v e b e e n l i k e l y to p a s s

a r e s o l u t i o n c o n d e m n i n g t h o s e w h o p a r t i c i p a t e d i n the S i n a i

Jigola

Britain

the t h r e e o t h e r E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t y m e m b e r s who h a d a g r e e d

T H E

FOREIGN

A N D C O M M O N W E A L T H SECRETARY

S o u t h A f r i c a n G o v e r n m e n t w e r e b « l i e v e d t o be recent

force.

s a i d t h a t the

respanaibie f o r t h a

s a b o t a g i n g o f the A n g o l a n o i l r e f i n e r y i n L u a n d a ,

although

c r e d i t f o r the a t t a c k h a d b e e n c l a i m e d b y the A n g o l a n g u e r i l l a m o v e ­ ment Unita.

A t a time when p r o g r e s s had been being made

s e c u r i n g the w i t h d r a w a l of C u b a n f o r c e s f r o m A n g o l a i t was

towards foolish

o f t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n s to h a v e t a k e n a s t e p w h i c h w a s b o u n d t o the A n g o l a n r e g i m e ' s Union and its a l l i e s .

sense of dependence

o n the

renew

s u p p o r t o f the

The Angolan Government's suspicions

Soviet

would

h a v e b e e n i n c r e a s e d b y the c u r r e n t v i s i t s to W a s h i n g t o n o f P r e s i d e n t Mobutu of Z a i r e ,

w h o m they r e g a r d e d as an enemy,

the U n i t a l e a d e r M r S a v i m b i ,

who was

s e n i o r o f f i c i a l i n the A m e r i c a n State

he

Seychelles

T H E

unsuccessful Reference:

l e s s e r e x t e n t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

inclusions, Minute 2

s a i d that the had

s t r o n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l c r i t i c i s m o f S o u t h A f r i c a a n d to a

i n f l u e n c e w o u l d s e e k to c o u n t e r , would now move One

Department.

c o u p d ' e t a t r e c e n t l y a t t e m p t e d i n t h e S e y c h e l l e s

provoked

and

to b e r e c e i v e d b y a

FOREIGN A N D C O M M O N W E A L T H SECRETARY

'revious ;C(81) 3 8 t h

expected

T h e r e was a danger, that the S e y c h e l l e s

towards even closer

o f the m e r c e n a r i e s

British

Government

r e l a t i o n s w i t h the S o v i e t

c a p t u r e d i n the S e y c h e l l e s

CONFIDENTIAL

which

was

a

Union.

British

C O N F I D E N T I A L

national;

consular

obtained.

It w a s

a c c e s s was

being

u n l i k e l y that the

i n s p i r e d the c o u p ,

sought but h a d not yet

which had actually been mounted f r o m

but they m u s t have

known about it.

been

South A f r i c a n authorities

had

Swaziland,

A difficult situation had

1

b e e n c a u s e d b y t h e i r a c t i o n o v e r the m e r c e n a r i e s

who h a d

since

escaped

f r o m t h e S e y c h e l l e s to S o u t h A f r i c a i n a h i j a c k e d a i r l i n e r a n d h a d s u r r e n d e r e d to t h e S o u t h A f r i c a n p o l i c e . b e e n set at l i b e r t y ,

A l l but five

B o n n D e c l a r a t i o n b y t h e H e a d s o f G o v e r n m e n t o f the W e s t e r n nations the

at t h e i r E c o n o m i c S u m m i t m e e t i n g

extradite

or prosecute

hijackers.

partners f r o m precipitate

nth S o u t h

Africa

T H E

revious

leference: X(81)

required

SECRETARY

OF STATE

to

s a i d that the

d a y to d e c i d e

not yet

not her

Welsh

whether

It h a d b e e n m a d e

to

accept

c l e a r to

that the G o v e r n m e n t h o p e d t h e y w o u l d r e f u s e .

conclusion was

consider

B r i t a i n would

a n d w o u l d s e e k to d i s s u a d e

FOR WALES

R u g b y U n i o n h a d m e t the p r e v i o u s in advance

case;

to

action.

a n i n v i t a t i o n to t o u r S o u t h A f r i c a . 3

leading

i n 1978

T h e y would now have

to a d o p t i n the p r e s e n t

t a k e the l e a d i n t h e s e c o n s u l t a t i o n s

Links

seven

The

s e v e n to t a k e r e t a l i a t o r y a c t i o n a g a i n s t a n y s t a t e w h i c h f a i l e d

jointly what attitude

iporting

of these had

a n d e v e n the f i v e h a d b e e n g r a n t e d b a i l .

them

Their

known.

11th

onclusions,

The Cabinet

-

minute 2 Took

COMMUNITY UTFAIRS

3.

note.

T H E PRIME

MINISTER

26-27 N o v e m b e r had not s u c c e e d e d i n r e a c h i n g a g r e e m e n t on i s s u e s c o v e r e d b y the had been agreed

16-27

November

European Council revious Reference: -C(81)

38th

Conclusions, Minute 3

s a i d that the E u r o p e a n C o u n c i l

M a n d a t e o f 30 M a y 1 9 8 0 .

it h a d s e e m e d l i k e l y that,

w o u l d be u n d e r p r e s s u r e the b u d g e t b e c a u s e the

W h e n that

by now,

the

t o a g r e e to a f u n d a m e n t a l

Community's existing

restructuring of

resources

within

been exhausted.

rise

this had not happened,

in world agricultural prices,

T h e c h a n g e s i n the

increased same time, favour

The Greeks,

and F r e n c h This

s e e k i n g c h a n g e s i n the

s m a l l p r o d u c e r s at the

expense of efficient

a g r i c u l t u r a l i s s u e s h a d b e e n the

being

subject

that p a r a l l e l p r o g r e s s

4

CONFIDENTIAL

A t the

C A P which

farming.

of detailed d i s c u s s i o n

m u s t be m a d e

to

wanted

pressure

E u r o p e a n C o u n c i l but a g r e e m e n t had not been r e a c h e d . insisted

although

w i t h t h e a c c e s s i o n o f S p a i n to the C o m m u n i t y . F r e n c h were

the

c o s t of a g r i c u l t u r e

Italians

support for Mediterranean products. the

the of

remained.

C o m m o n A g r i c u l t u r a l P o l i c y ( C A P ) now

s o u g h t w e r e l i k e l y to a d d s u b s t a n t i a l l y to the

would increase

Because

r e s t r u c t u r i n g on grounds of equity

the C o m m u n i t y B u d g e t ,

the

Mandate

Community

1 per cent V A T ceiling would have the n e e d f o r b u d g e t

on

on all three

She

would

These at

the

had

aspects

of

C O N F I D E N T I A L

the M a n d a t e .

It h a d b e e n d e c i d e d t o a s k t h e F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r s to

m e e t a g a i n to c o n s i d e r the m a i n o u t s t a n d i n g i s s u e s . \ u i l i k e l y that any p r o g r e s s the C o m m u n i t y w a s

It

approaching a c r i s i s and needed agreement

agricultural prices.

It w o u l d b e d e s i r a b l e to t r y t o a v o i d

t r a d i n g o n a p a c k a g e but this m i g h t not be p o s s i b l e . a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r the U n i t e d K i n g d o m f o r 1982

horse agreed.

r u n n i n g into

1983.

E u r o p e a n C o u n c i l h a d a l s o r e f e r r e d to F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r s f o r

further for

on

The budgetary

h a d s t i l l to b e

It w o u l d b e m o s t u n d e s i r a b l e t o h a v e t h e d i s p u t e The

seemed

c o u l d b e m a d e o n the b u d g e t i s s u e u n t i l

s t u d y the p r o p o s a l s b y the G e r m a n a n d I t a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t s

a E u r o p e a n A c t w h i c h w o u l d set u p f u r t h e r C o u n c i l s of M i n i s t e r s

responsible

f o r Justi.de a n d f o r c u l t u r a l affairs}

involve

d i s c u s s i o n w i t h i n the C o m m u n i t y o n s e c u r i t y m a t t e r s ;

more

and

increase

c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the E u r o p e a n P a r l i a m e n t !

Special M e e t i n g

T H E

if F o r e i g n A f f a i r s

Government were

ministers

M i n i s t e r s o n the M a n d a t e b e f o r e

10 M a y

on

1980

Mandate

He

FOREIGN AND C O M M O N W E A L T H SECRETARY

s a i d that

the

c o m m i t t e d to c a l l a s p e c i a l m e e t i n g o f the F o r e i g n the e n d o f the B r i t i s h

» a s d i s c u s s i n g w i t h the P r i m e M i n i s t e r a n d o t h e r

i m m e d i a t e l y i n v o l v e d h o w b e s t to h a n d l e

A

crisis

but it w o u l d i n e v i t a b l y

to the p u b l i c c o n c e p t i o n o f the C o m m u n i t y i n

B r i t a i n and everything possible

In a b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n ,

colleagues

such a meeting.

o v e r the b u d g e t i s s u e m i g h t b e u n a v o i d a b l e , l e a d to f u r t h e r d a m a g e

Presidency.

s h o u l d b e d o n e to p r e v e n t i t .

it was noted that s o m e m e m b e r

c h a l l e n g i n g the o u t c o m e

o f the

30 M a y 1 9 8 0

states

were

arrangement which would

i n p r a c t i c e r e s u l t i n the U n i t e d K i n g d o m ' s net c o n t r i b u t i o n b e i n g substantially lower was

that t h e r e The

than had been f o r e s e e n

a t the t i m e .

should not be an absolute

outcome

l i m i t o n o u r net c o n t r i b u t i o n .

g e t t i n g a s a t i s f a c t o r y a r r a n g e m e n t f o r the f u t u r e . u n l i k e l y to

result insisted

w a s n e v e r t h e l e s s n o t h e l p f u l to t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m i n

c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h i c h h a d p r o d u c e d this unexpected

Moreover, result

the

were

continue.

JO D e c e m b e r

T H E

•formal

be an i n f o r m a l m e e t i n g

Meeting

This

e n t i r e l y the f a u l t o f the r e s t of the C o m m u n i t y , w h o h a d

SECRETARY

O F STATE

F O R INDUSTRY

s a i d that t h e r e

of C o m m u n i t y M i n i s t e r s responsible

o n 10 D e c e m b e r .

H i s a i m w o u l d be to

would for

I* I n d u s t r y

industrial matters

iMinisters

that the C o m m i s s i o n r i g o r o u s l y i m p l e m e n t e d the a g r e e m e n t

on

l i m i t a t i o n o f state a i d s i n the

difficult

steel sector;

ensure

but t h i s w o u l d be

g i v e n the p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n B e l g i u m . THE

HOME

responsible

The Took

SECRETARY

r e p o r t e d that M i n i s t e r s i n the C o m m u n i t y

f o r p u b l i c s e c u r i t y w o u l d be m e e t i n g o n 8

Cabinet note.

C O N F I D E N T I A L

December.

CONFIDENTIAL

T H ESECRETARY

I'ORTHERN

4.

IRELAND

s a i d that the

O F STATE

FOR NORTHERN

after a v e r y difficult p e r i o d in N o v e m b e r . >revious

challenge posed by D r Paisley's

l c ( 8 l ) 38 th

volunteers,

inclusions, 4

The Chief

calmer,

Constable

i n t e n d e d t o r e s p o n d f i r m l y b u t w i t h m i n i m u m p u b l i c i t y to

•eference;

pinute

IRELAND

s i t u a t i o n i n the P r o v i n c e w a s now a good d e a l

the

s o - c a l l e d "third force" of

w h o a p p e a r e d to b e l e s s n u m e r o u s t h a n t h e i r

Protestant

frequent

m a r c h e s m i g h t s u g g e s t a n d w e r e b e g i n n i n g to b e r e g a r d e d b y the public as

s o m e t h i n g of a j o k e .

Meanwhile operations

against

the

P r o v i s i o n a l I r i s h R e p u b l i c a n A r m y ( P I R A ) had been m u c h assisted by

recent acquisitions

of intelligence.

Arms

caches had been

u n c o v e r e d b o t h i n N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d a n d i n the I r i s h R e p u b l i c , arrests

i n a n u m b e r of m u r d e r cases had been facilitated.

activites These

of the P I R A h a d b e e n c o n s i d e r a b l y d i m i n i s h e d i n

successes were

easily

The consequence,

n o t t h e r e s u l t o f the t e m p o r a r y i n c r e a s e

security force deployments tension;

and

to d e a l w i t h t h e r e c e n t p e r i o d o f

in

special

b u t p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n the P r o t e s t a n t c o m m u n i t y w o u l d n o t be

c o n v i n c e d of that. The Took

Cabinet note.

Cabinet Office 3 December

1981

CONFIDENTIAL