Then Prime Minister Tony Blair attempted to amend a Gerry Adams statement on IRA disarmament, newly unsealed documents show.
On April 27, 2003, then Sinn Féin leader Mr Adams gave a lengthy address on the decommissioning of arms by the IRA.
It followed the Prime Minister calling on the IRA to provide clarity on “three questions” that arose from a statement issued by that organisation.
It came after then-taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Mr Blair issued a joint statement in early April that said all parties had a collective responsibility to fulfil the promise of the Good Friday Agreement.
That was met shortly thereafter by a communique from the Provisional IRA to the two governments, which was later made public.
The letter said that the responsibility for advancing the political impasses at the time rested with the two governments, particularly the UK government – and that the IRA was disappointed with the lack of full implementation of the agreement.
In the response, the IRA said it supported the peace process, expressed resolve for a “complete and final closure of the conflict” and announced a further act of decommissioning
The wording of the IRA statement provoked some unease despite the UK and Irish governments initially stating that it showed a clear desire to make the peace process work.
Newly unsealed documents from the Department of Foreign Affairs reveal a back-and-forth involving Mr Adams, the department and the Westminster government around a draft statement for the Sinn Féin leader for more than a week.
Mr Ahern and Mr Blair had agreed that Sinn Féin and the IRA needed to provide clarity and an endorsement of their interpretation of the IRA statement.
Departmental minutes say that the Prime Minister expressed concern that the Sinn Féin/IRA strategy was to split the two governments.
Both Mr Ahern and Mr Blair agreed that it would be best for the IRA to provide another statement.
They gave the following wording to Mr Adams for a possible statement: “I agree and endorse the interpretation of the IRA statement put forward by the two governments. Furthermore, the substantial act of putting weapons beyond use authorised by the IRA is a clear endorsement of the basis of proceeding as set out in the Joint Declaration.”