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    "title": "Ireland (02/03/1981-02/26/1981)",
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        "logicalDate": "1981-01-01",
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    "url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/reagan/rr-EXSEC/12026383/518257410/40-748-518257410-R15-023-2025.pdf",
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    "ocrText": "Ronald Reagan Presidential Library\nDigital Library Collections\nThis is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.\nCollection: Executive Secretariat, NSC: Country File:\nRecords, 1981-1985\nSERIES: III: EUROPE AND SOVIET UNION\nFolder Title: Ireland (02/03/1981-02/26/1981)\nBox: RAC Box 15\nTo see more digitized collections visit:\nhttps://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digitized-textual-material\nTo see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Inventories, visit:\nhttps://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/white-house-inventories\nContact a reference archivist at: [email protected]\nCitation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/research-\nsupport/citation-guide\nNational Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/\nLast Updated: 05/09/2025\n267\n/\nMEMORANDUM\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nThe President has seen\nWASHINGTON\nFebruary 3, 1981\nINFORMATION\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nTHE PRESIDENT\nOKpr\npr\nFROM:\nRICHARD ALLEN An\nSUBJECT:\nIrish Embassy project\nThe Irish Embassy is delighted to inform the Irish\ngovernment that you indeed have an interest in\n'tracing your roots.\" The project will go ahead,\nand the Embassy has informed me that it will remain\na private undertaking and that the results will be\npresented to you in due course.\nI trust this meets with your approval.\nCC: Edwin Meese\nJames A. Baker\nNSC/S PROFILE\nCONFIDENTIAL\nID 8100241\n2\nRECEIVED 04 FEB 81 16\nTO\nDEAVER, M\nFROM ALLEN\nDOCDATE 03 FEB 81\nBANCLASSIRED JPON REMOVA.\nOF CLASSIFIED FNCLOSURE(S)\n7/7/15 /2013\nKEYWORDS: IRELAND\nVISIT\nHAUGHEY, CHARLES J\nAP\nDONLON\nSUBJECT: APPT REQUEST FOR PM HAUGHEY W/ PRES ON 17 MARCH\nACTION: ALLEN SGD MEMO TO DEAVER\nDUE: 26 FEB 81 STATUS X/S FILES\nOH\nFOR ACTION\nFOR COMMENT\nFOR INFO\nRENTSCHLER\nTYSON\nFARRAR\nCOMMENTS\nREF#\nLOG 8100483\nNSCIFID\n( B, H )\nACTION OFFICER (S)\nASSIGNED\nACTION REQUIRED\nDUE\nCOPIES TO\nSplit Package\n2/26 Recd State memo\nCT\nRentschler x/s 2/26 Phepare memo fr Allen 2/26\nallen x 3/02 forsignature\nCT\nC 3/06 Allen sol memo\n3/6 2nd Part OBe Per alter Rect Tyson Rentschle\nA 3/9 Tyson 49d memp to 3r 3/15 RE\n3/10 Read approved activity RE et\n2\n3/13 Recd s/s 8107928\nRE 3 MA 3/13 Sr allea - CT\nallen\nX 3/A fordecision\nCTL\nC 3/18 Pres has seen\nCV, DB\nDISPATCH\nW/ATTACH FILE\n(0) P&A (C) dom\n520\n*******C 0 N I D E N I A L*******\n3\nDATE 02/25/81\nWHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM\nRAGE 001\nWHSR COMMENTS\nRA NAN COL VP\nEOB:WEUR\nMESSAGE ANNOTATIONS:\nNO MESSAGE ANNOTATIONS\nMESSAGE:\nIMMEDIATE\nDE RUFHDB #2668 0491254\no 1812532 FEB 81 ZFF-4\nDECLASSIFIED\nFM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN\nNLRR 748-35-23-1-5\nTO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6214\nBY 003 NARA DATE 7/7/15\nA 0 N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 00668\nLIMDIS\nE.O. 120651 RD8-1 2/18/87 (SHANNON, WILLIAM VI OR-M\nTAGS: PEPR, PDIP, EI, us\nSUBJECT: POSSIBLE HAUGHEY VISIT TO U.S.\n1. C-ENTIRE TEXT.\n2. DURING A FEBRUARY 15 MEETING WITH U.S. SENATOR\nCHRISTOPHER DODD (D-CONN), IRISH PRIME MINISTER HAUGHEY\nTOLD AMBASSADOR SHANNON THAT HE PROBABLY WILL NOT GO\nAHEAD WITH TENTATIVE PLANS HE HAD TO PAY A PRIVATE VISIT\nTO WASHINGTON IN MARCH. HAUGHEY COMMENTED THAT, ON\nREFLECTION, HE THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT BE A PARTICULARLY\nGOOD TIME TO GO SINCE THERE WOULD BE A LONG LINE OF\nGOVERNMENT HEADS WAITING TO SEE PRESIDENT REAGAN. AS\nA RESULT, THERE WOULD NOT LIKELY BE SUFFICIENT TIME FOR\nGOOD SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT AND\nOTHER U.S. LEADERS.\n3. TALKING SHORTLY AFTERWARD WITH AMBASSADOR SHANNON,\nSECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT DERMOT NALLY SAID NO FINAL\nDECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN BUT ADDED THAT IT'S \"ABOUT 80\nPERCENT CERTAIN\" THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD NOT TRAVEL\nTO THE U.S. IN MARCH.\n4. HOWEVER, AT FOREIGN MINISTER LENIHAN'S FEBRUARY 15\nLUNCHEON FOR SENATOR DODD, LENIHAN TOLD AMBASSADOR\nSHANNON THAT HE HAS BEEN URGING THE PRIME MINISTER TO\nUNDERTAKE THE TRIP AND STILL HOPES HE WILL DO so.\n*******C 0 N F I D fill N T I A L*******\n*CONFIDENTIA\n:\n4\nDATE 02/25/81\nWHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM\nPAGE 002\nMESSAGE (CONTINUED):\n5. COMMENT. THE PRIME MINISTER'S STATED REASONS FOR\nRELUCTANCE TO VISIT WASHINGTON IN MARCH MAY NOT BE THE\nONLY ONES. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT HE WANTS TO STICK\nCLOSE TO HOME IN THE RUN-UP TO AN IRISH GENERAL ELECTION\nWHICH IS WIDELY EXPECTED HERE TO BE SOMETIME THIS SPRING.\nSHANNON\nPSN: 006917\nTOR: 049/138112\nSTG: 181253Z FEB 81\n*******CONFIDENTIAL*******\n10\n5\n5\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nDate: 2/26/81\nNOTE FOR:\nDICK ALLEN\nThe attached was returned in the\nPresident's outbox, and is\nforwarded to you for your information.\nC. as.\nRichard G. Darman\nDeputy Assistant to the President\nand Staff Secretary\n(X2702)\nCC:\nOK\nTHE WHITE HOUSE\nWASHINGTON\nRECOMMENDED TELEPHONE CALL\nCall AM RR 2/26/81\nTO:\nSenator Edward M. Kennedy\n(D-Massachusetts)\nDATE:\nBefore or during State Visit of Prime\nMinister Margaret Thatcher\nRECOMMENDED BY:\nMax Friedersdorf\nPam Turner\nPURPOSE:\nTo respond to Senator Kennedy's phone\ncall to you of February 24, 1981. Senator\nKennedy wants you to discuss the Northern\nIreland situation with Prime Minister Thatcher.\nBACKGROUND:\nIn addition to his phone call, Senator\nKennedy has written you a letter suggesting\nthat you compliment Prime Minister Thatcher\non the progress she and Prime Minister\nHaughey of Ireland are making toward improving\nrelations between their two countries. He\nsuggests further that you initiate the idea\nof linking a settlement of the conflict in\nNorthern Ireland to participation by the\nRepublic of Ireland in defense arrangements\nof the Western allies. He thinks the\nIrish would be receptive, provided the\nsettlement involves some form of Irish unity.\nSenator Kennedy says he is still trying to\nfind Ballyporeen on his map of Ireland\nand suggests you visit there with him.\nThe State Department and NSC oppose\nSenator Kennedy's initiative and suggest\nthat you not bring this up with Mrs. Thatcher.\nTOPICS OF DISCUSSION: 1.\nYou are returning the Senator's call.\nLet him outline his pruposals to you,\nand mention that you have received his\nletter.\n2. Thank him for his suggestions on this\nsensitive and complex issue. Agree that\nthe progress toward resolution of this\nconflict is encouraging. Tell Lim you\nare in the process of developing your\nP\nagenda for discussions with Mrs. Thatcher\n-\nPls\nand will take his suggestions under\nnote\nadvisement. Do not commit to discuss this\nReva\nidea with Mrs. Thatcher.\n6A\n-2-\n3. Thank him for the note about Ballyporeen.\nDATE OF SUBMISSION: February 24, 1981\nACTION:\nEDWARD M. KENNEDY\nMASSACHUSETTS\n7\nUnited States Senate\nWASHINGTON, D.C. 20510\nFebruary 13, 1981\nDECLASSIFIED\nConfidential\nNLRR\n15-23-2-4\n005023\nThe President\nThe White House\nBY 1COB NAPADATE 7/7/15\nWashington, D.C.\nDear Mr. President:\nI am writing to express my strong hope that you\nwill raise the issue of Northern Ireland when you meet\nwith Prime Minister Thatcher later this month. She and\nPrime Minister Haughey made historic progress last De-\ncember in moving together toward improved relations be-\ntween their two countries, and it would be very construc-\ntive if you were to welcome this progress and to support\ncontinued development of their unique relationship.\nI believe it would be especially useful for you to\nsuggest an initiative linking a settlement of the con-\nflict in Northern Ireland to participation by the Re-\npublic of Ireland in defense arrangements of the Western\nallies. I believe that the Government of Ireland may be\nreceptive to participating in such defense arrangements\nalong the lines described in the brief memorandum enclosed.\nBy suggesting this approach, I think you would make a major\ncontribution to the goals of peace and security in Ireland\nand in Northern Europe -- and to the well-being of NATO as\na whole.\nI hope to discuss this matter personally with you,\nif possible. You have my best wishes for a successful\nmeeting with the Prime Minister.\nSincerely\nEdward M. Kennedy\nAttachment\nCC: The Honorable\nAlexander M. Haig, Jr.\nlam still trying to fina\nBollyporeen on my map of brehamd why don't\nwe visit there together-\n8\nCONFIDENTIAL\nDEFENSE-RELATED INITIATIVE ON NORTHERN IRELAND\nFEBRUARY 13, 1981\nA. THE PROPOSAL\n1. In addition to other topics on the agenda for\nPresident Reagan's talks later this month with Prime\nMinister Thatcher, the President may wish to pursue an\ninitiative linking a settlement of the conflict in Northern\nIreland to participation by the Republic of Ireland in\ndefense arrangements of the Western allies.\n2. There is reason to believe that the Government of\nIreland may be receptive to participation in such arrange-\nments, provided that the participation is linked to a\nlong-term settlement on Northern Ireland involving some\nform of Irish unity achieved by the consent of the parties.\n3. A possible step along these lines would be a joint\ndefense arrangement between Ireland and Great Britain. It\nis possible that such an arrangement might eventually be\nlinked to the NATO defense structure.\n4. A defense arrangement would be a departure\nfrom Ireland's long-standing policy of neutrality.\nAcceptance of some form of Irish unity would be a departure\nfrom Great Britain's long-standing policy on Northern Ireland.\n9\n-2-\nTherefore, the possibility arises that a significant British\naction on Northern Ireland might be accompanied by a significant\nIrish action on defense.\n5. An initiative from the United States is appropriate\nat this time, because of the highly successful outcome of\nthe meeting in Dublin last December between Prime Minister\nThatcher and Prime Minister Haughey of Ireland. That meeting\npledged increased contacts and cooperation between the two\nnations on all issues.\nB. Suggested Talking Points for President Reagan's Conversation\nwith Prime Minister Thatcher.\n1. It would be of great importance to our common defense\ninterests if the Republic of Ireland can be brought into Wes-\ntern defense arrangements.\n2. I have reason to believe that Ireland may be prepared\nto consider such defense arrangements as part of an acceptable\nsettlement on Northern Ireland.\n3. I realize the sensitivity of the Northern Ireland\nissue, and I also realize the complexity in moving toward\na settlement that involves some form of Irish unity.\n-3-\n10\n4. The United States stands ready in every possible\nway to facilitate a settlement on Northern Ireland satis-\nfactory to the parties.\n5. If Irish participation in joint defense arrangements\ncan become part of a future settlement on Northern Ireland,\nI would welcome it."
}