Conclusions of Cabinet Meetings 31-40 (1988)
Catalogue reference: CAB 128/91
34th meeting conclusions, 10 November 1988
Kings Cross Fire: ‘gross inadequacies in the management of London Underground and London Regional Transport’.
United States: the election of George Bush brought to the White House ‘a good friend of Britain and a strong dependable ally’.
Prime Minister’s visit to Poland – 5,000 people turned out too meet Margaret Thatcher at Gdansk, described by the PM as a ‘fascinating experience’. Thatcher pressed Mr Walesa [leader of Solidarity] to devise a clear a precise agenda of demands which would be hard for the Polish government to refuse.
35th meeting conclusions, 15 November 1988
Israel: it would be important to persuade the incoming US administration to apply pressure on the new Israeli government to accept a settlement based on land for peace.
37th meeting conclusions, 1 December 1988
Ireland: extradition of former Catholic Priest and alleged IRA member, Patrick Ryan, ‘contained all the ingredients for a major political dispute’. The behaviour of Irish Authorities had ‘sapped confidence in their willingness to combat terrorism’.
39th meeting conclusions, 15 December 1988
Clapham rail accident: initial reports indicated that 33 dead and 133 injured. Need to establish an inquiry as soon as possible expressed, as ‘already signs of a search for scapegoats’.
Ireland: Cabinet informed that Irish Ministers ‘acutely embarrassed’ over Ryan affair. HMG would now ask Irish authorities to review extradition legislation. Anglo-Irish Agreement provided forum ‘for blunt speaking when required.’
40th meeting conclusions, 22 December 1988
Lockerbie: reason for plane crash unclear; it was ‘essential that the cause of the disaster should be identified as soon as possible.’
Most confidential records: CC (88) 6th Conclusions minute 6; CC(88) 35th Conclusions minute 5
Catalogue reference: CAB 128/92
This file contains two papers on economic strategy and The Queen’s Speech.
Memoranda
Catalogue reference: CAB 129/222
Majority of the file contains the 1987 Defence Estimate ‘which has a strong nuclear flavour’ and sets out the case for the independent deterrent and UK acquiring Trident rather than the alternatives.
The post Cabinet Office files (CAB) appeared first on The National Archives.