Archive

Archive (Reagan Library)

Cold War: Thatcher letter to Reagan (Law of the Sea) [summary declassified 2000]

Document type: Declassified documents
Venue: 10 Downing Street
Source: Reagan Library: NSA Head of State File (Box 35)
Editorial comments: Declassified 4 Apr 2000.
Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 204 words
Themes: Foreign policy (development, aid, etc), Foreign policy (International organizations), Foreign policy (USA), Foreign policy (Western Europe - non-EU), MT contacts with Ronald Reagan
Declassified F96-107#101
By SMF, NARA, Date 9/4/00

Secret

Memorandum for Mr. William P. Clark
The White House

Subject: Suggested Letter to Prime Minister Thatcher

Prime Minister Thatcher has written the President in regard to the current Law of the Sea negotiations. She notes that the UK will make clear to leaders of the Law of the Sea Conference that the UK would have great difficulty in participating in a Convention in which the US did not take part. Mrs. Thatcher also argued that signature of a Reciprocating States Agreement in the week before the resumption of the Conference would make it more difficult to achieve US concerns. We delayed replying to this letter until the UK and the FRG had responded to our request to sign the Agreement as early as possible. The UK and the FRG have decided they will not sign the Agreement before May. The letter to Prime Minister Thatcher urges that, in light of that decision, it is imperative that the UK and the UK work closely together in the Law of the Sea negotiations.

L. Paul Bremer, III
Executive Secretary