The Troubles: Ireland's Ordeal 1966–1995 and the Search for Peace

by Tim Pat Coogan

Peace did not come easily. The ‘discussions’ between Sinn Fein and SDLP delegations began in the New Year of 1988 and continued until the autumn. The last meeting was held on 30 August 1988. During this time several papers were exchanged between the two sides and much constructive thinking followed. The basic positions of the two sides were as follows: Hume argued that the Anglo-Irish Agreement had made violence redundant. On the basis of his Westminster soundings, he advanced the opinion that Britain, through the Agreement, was sending a powerful signal that she was adopting a neutral position in matters Irish. He told Adams that London no longer had any interest in Ireland and that her only concern was to foster agreement amongst the inhabitants of the island of Ireland. Hume was mistrustful of the Sinn Fein demand that Britain should make a declaration of intent to withdraw. He argued that a declaration to withdraw was in effect the same thing as a decision to withdraw: The political vacuum is immediately created… This route is the route of maximum risk and it is a risk which we believe no one has the right to take unless they do so with the full authority of the Irish people… we would have a Cyprus/Lebanon style formula for permanent division and bloodshed. What would the 12, 000 armed members of the RUC do? What would the 8, 000 armed members of the UDR do?… Is the risk involved in such a policy not an awesome one and likely to ensure that the peace and unity of Irela...