This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30610096

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Thatcher and FitzGerald talks: Redrawing of Northern Ireland border was discussed Thatcher and FitzGerald talks: Redrawing of Northern Ireland border was discussed
(about 1 hour later)
Newly-released files from the Irish National Archives have revealed how the British and Irish Governments discussed redrawing the Northern Ireland border in 1984.Newly-released files from the Irish National Archives have revealed how the British and Irish Governments discussed redrawing the Northern Ireland border in 1984.
The then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher talked about the idea with her Irish counterpart, Garret FitzGerald.The then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher talked about the idea with her Irish counterpart, Garret FitzGerald.
However, Mr FitzGerald rejected the offerHowever, Mr FitzGerald rejected the offer
The exchanges are contained in files in Dublin's national archives released under the 30-year rule.The exchanges are contained in files in Dublin's national archives released under the 30-year rule.
In exchanges at a crucial summit ahead of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, Mrs Thatcher argued that giving Dublin an official role in the running of the region would plunge it into civil war.In exchanges at a crucial summit ahead of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, Mrs Thatcher argued that giving Dublin an official role in the running of the region would plunge it into civil war.
The files reveal that she told Mr FitzGerald in the November 1984 talks that resolving the crisis could mean "simply" moving the border.The files reveal that she told Mr FitzGerald in the November 1984 talks that resolving the crisis could mean "simply" moving the border.
"She wondered if a possible answer to the problem might not simply be a redrawing of boundaries," records an official note of the meeting."She wondered if a possible answer to the problem might not simply be a redrawing of boundaries," records an official note of the meeting.
However, Mr FitzGerald rejected the apparent offer.However, Mr FitzGerald rejected the apparent offer.
"What we have achieved at present is a lowering of expectations," he said."What we have achieved at present is a lowering of expectations," he said.
'Incomprehension''Incomprehension'
The pair later discussed a federal, Belgium-style model.The pair later discussed a federal, Belgium-style model.
Mr FitzGerald said the Irish government had worked on dampening hopes among some for an end to Northern Ireland as it was constituted.Mr FitzGerald said the Irish government had worked on dampening hopes among some for an end to Northern Ireland as it was constituted.
The secret files include an official note of the two-hour Chequers summit, which show Mrs Thatcher's "incomprehension" as to what Irish nationalists wanted.The secret files include an official note of the two-hour Chequers summit, which show Mrs Thatcher's "incomprehension" as to what Irish nationalists wanted.
Mr FitzGerald explained that the minority felt Irish and part of the majority of the island of Ireland "from which they had been cut off by an arbitrary act".Mr FitzGerald explained that the minority felt Irish and part of the majority of the island of Ireland "from which they had been cut off by an arbitrary act".
He said the British had drawn a line around Northern Ireland, creating a Protestant majority, cutting off the minority from the rest of the island, and people were "set against each other within a narrow space".He said the British had drawn a line around Northern Ireland, creating a Protestant majority, cutting off the minority from the rest of the island, and people were "set against each other within a narrow space".
He said Mrs Thatcher needed to deal with the alienation of northern nationalists.He said Mrs Thatcher needed to deal with the alienation of northern nationalists.
He pressed Mrs Thatcher for a new system of governing Northern Ireland, based on agreed policies between Britain's secretary of state and an Irish government minister. He pressed her for a new system of governing Northern Ireland, based on agreed policies between the UK's secretary of state and an Irish government minister.
He said where they could not agree, decisions would be appealed to the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach. Mr FitzGerald said where they could not agree, decisions would be appealed to the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach.
However, Mrs Thatcher "reacted strongly" to the plan, according to the Irish government files.However, Mrs Thatcher "reacted strongly" to the plan, according to the Irish government files.
"No, no - that is joint authority. You are giving them 40% of our country," she said."No, no - that is joint authority. You are giving them 40% of our country," she said.
ConsequencesConsequences
During exchanges, described by those at the meeting as rapid and vigorous, Mrs Thatcher fretted about the wider consequences of addressing Catholic alienation in relation to ethnic minorities in Britain.During exchanges, described by those at the meeting as rapid and vigorous, Mrs Thatcher fretted about the wider consequences of addressing Catholic alienation in relation to ethnic minorities in Britain.
She said: "If these things were done, the next question would be what comes next? Were the Sikhs in Southall to be allowed to fly their own flag?"She said: "If these things were done, the next question would be what comes next? Were the Sikhs in Southall to be allowed to fly their own flag?"
Mr FitzGerald said there had been agreement on an Irish government role in running Northern Ireland, adding that he could not ask the Republic of Ireland to give up its territorial claim over it without such a deal.Mr FitzGerald said there had been agreement on an Irish government role in running Northern Ireland, adding that he could not ask the Republic of Ireland to give up its territorial claim over it without such a deal.
But Mrs Thatcher said: "It smacks too much of joint authority. That was definitely out."But Mrs Thatcher said: "It smacks too much of joint authority. That was definitely out."
"The unionists would say you are giving up your constitutional claims but you are coming across the border and don't really need the claim. That would put us well on the way to civil war," she added."The unionists would say you are giving up your constitutional claims but you are coming across the border and don't really need the claim. That would put us well on the way to civil war," she added.
Discussing a suggestion from Mr FitzGerald of a Belgium-style solution - a federal arrangement under a monarchy - Mrs Thatcher said she "had not ruled it out, even though it would be attacked by unionists as an effective repartition".Discussing a suggestion from Mr FitzGerald of a Belgium-style solution - a federal arrangement under a monarchy - Mrs Thatcher said she "had not ruled it out, even though it would be attacked by unionists as an effective repartition".
She added: "History shows that the Irish, whether the Scottish-Irish or the Irish-Irish, don't like to move. However, they all seem to be terribly happy to move to Britain."She added: "History shows that the Irish, whether the Scottish-Irish or the Irish-Irish, don't like to move. However, they all seem to be terribly happy to move to Britain."
Mrs Thatcher also complained there was too much public-sector employment in Northern Ireland, there was no wealth creation and that it was costing London £2bn a year in subventions at the time.Mrs Thatcher also complained there was too much public-sector employment in Northern Ireland, there was no wealth creation and that it was costing London £2bn a year in subventions at the time.
She was also worried about a threat of more violence as a result of the Anglo-Irish talks.She was also worried about a threat of more violence as a result of the Anglo-Irish talks.
"There was a real danger that a Marxist society could develop," she added."There was a real danger that a Marxist society could develop," she added.