Belfast Office Group Submissions [1/2]

Materials were received by the International Body between November 1995 and April 1998. Types of materials include reports, drafts, Senator Mitchell's briefing book, submissions, correspondence, computer files, proposals, minutes from various meetings, election results, records of hearings and discussions, as well as copies of the final agreement document. The earlier documents in this subseries were produced during five weeks of interviewing and fact-finding by the International Body, a process which led to the eventual publication of the Mitchell Report on January 24, 1996. The International Body received scores of letters from individuals, groups, and corporations expressing concern for the situation in Northern Ireland as well as support for Mitchell and the other members of the Body, which included General John de Chastelain of Canada and Mr. Harri Holkeri of Finland. The mission of the International Body was to make recommendations to both the Irish and British governments concerning the decommissioning of illegally held arms by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. Through the numerous submissions and interviews in Dublin and Belfast, the Mitchell Report stated that many sectarian groups were willing to, on a number of conditions, disarm themselves as a precondition to the opening of all-party peace negotiations. The report also suggested a quick round of elections to set the stage for peace talks. Later documents resulted from the actual multiparty negotiations conducted by the three Independent Chairmen. Participants in this process included the Alliance Party, the Labour Party, Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (N.I.W.C), the Progressive Unionist Party (P.U.P.), the Social Democrat and Labour Party (S.D.L.P.), the Ulster Democratic Party (U.D.P.), the Ulster Unionist Party (U.U.P.) the United Kingdom Unionists Party (U.K.U.P), the Democratic Unionist Party (D.U.P.), Sinn Fein, and the Irish and British governments. Individuals prominently involved in the peace process included Tony Blair, Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, Ian Paisley, John Hume, David Trimble, John Taylor, and Marjorie Mowlem. Other individuals mentioned in the documents include Mr. Ervine, Mr. Mallon, Mr. McBride, Mr. Robinson, Mr. McMichael, Mr. Empey, Mr. McCartney, Mr. McCrea, and Ms. Hinds. These and many others took part in this lengthy process, which culminated in the April 10, 1998, signing of the final Belfast Agreement.