Aides feared Gerry Adams and John Major would meet during Bill Clinton's UK visit

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Aides feared an “undignified hiding-behind-potted-plants scenario” during president Bill Clinton‘s trip to the UK, amid concerns a chance meeting between John Major and Gerry Adams would create unwanted press coverage. In a memo to Edward Oakden, Mr Major’s private secretary, Mr Crawford said: “Sinn Fein will almost certainly be invited to the reception. “We cannot see a way of the prime minister avoiding Gerry Adams without reverting to the undignified hiding-behind-the-potted plants scenario, which creates almost as valuable a news story as the first handshake.” He also cautioned of the “real risk of political damage” if Mr Major was “too closely associated with this part” of president Clinton’s visit. Mr Major told staff he was keen to accompany Mr Clinton on his visit, but appreciated the need to “avoid a handshake with Adams – and at the same time not look as if we were trying to avoid this,” Mr Oakden wrote.