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Searched for: prem191967. Document type: Declassified documents.

Showing items 1 - 50 of 89.

PDF 86 Jun 1 Su Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Howe) [press leak of MT letter to President Botha; MT "extremely angry... confirmed her fear that her communications and conversations with foreign Heads of Government were in general given too wide a circulation"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 1 Su Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: MT letter to President Botha (Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group) ["Clearly we were both upset by the other's reaction to recent events. We ought now to put this behind us. What matters is... the hope of progress offered by the... Group's initiative"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 2 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: President Kaunda letter to MT (South African attack on UN High Commission for Refugees Camp) ["write to thank you... for your... sympathy and solidarity... following South Africa's wanton and unprovoked bombing"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 4 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: UKE Cape Town telegram to FCO ("South Africa internal") [situation report: "clamp down on the continuing violence... I believe we may have reached something of a watershed"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 5 Th Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Co-Chairmen of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (negotiations about the democratic future of South Africa) ["We strongly believe that... [our] negotiating concept is sound... difficult to understand how the term suspension of violence provides difficulties for the South African Government... a prior reduction in the level of violence before the Government itself takes specific action... would not be feasible"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 6 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("South Africa: President Botha") [meeting with European Heads of Government proposed by Pik Botha; Howe reports on soundings with Genscher & Raimond: "neither liked the idea"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 6 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: FCO record of conversation (Howe, Lubbers, van den Broek) ["South Africa": further sanctions] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 8 Su Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Powell minute for MT ("South Africa: Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group") ["have agreed and signed their report"; their work at end, no recommendation for action; next steps] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 9 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: UKE Cape Town telegram to FCO ("MISC 118") [comments on draft paper for cabinet committee: "Little if anything is said about the likely impact of measures on South Africa... the case for measures seems to depend primarily on the need to maintain our position in the Commonwealth, the Community and the Third World"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 9 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Lord Barber) [Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group Report; further measures; MT: "Front Line States... would in turn seek aid to compensate them, which we would be in no position to provide"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 9 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("South Africa: ComGEP") [Eminent Persons Report: "general feeling in the Group was that they were being strung along... unlikely to be able to play any further role... very high risk of increased violence... need to prepare our position as thoroughly - and as quickly - as possible... [Howe] observes... before long we... [will] have exhausted the scope for minor, relatively painless measures"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 10 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Secretary-General of the Commonwealth letter to MT ("Mission to South Africa Report of the Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons") ["the report leaves little doubt that... there will not have been adequate progress... the question arises as to what further measures Commonwealth governments will adopt"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 10 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Pik Botha letter to co-Chairmen of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (negotiations) [preconditions for, process and nature of the negotiations: "unacceptable that violence or the threat of violence should be used as a bargaining counter"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 10 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Powell minute for MT (Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group Report) [encloses conclusions; MT: "It is worse than I thought"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 10 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Powell minute for MT (Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group Report: message from Chancellor Kohl) ["anxious to avoid any substantive reaction... until he had a chance to co-ordinate views with you"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 11 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Howe) ["South Africa": "brief discussion... of the Report of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group and how the Government should respond publicly to it"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 11 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 briefing for MT ("Meeting with the co-Chairmen of the Eminent Persons Group") ["The Group's report in effect recommends that sanctions should be applied... it seems evident that Mandela holds the key to the situation"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 11 We Declassified documents Minor Archive (TNA) South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("Message to the Prime Minister") [cover letter only, referring to message from President Botha] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 11 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("ComGEP: Background Papers for Members of the Cabinet") [conclusions of the Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons report on its work, and copies of correspondence between the Group and the South African government] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 12 Th Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 letter to Howe PS ("South Africa") [MT "inclined to think that she should send a further message to President Botha... to sound [him] out on the possibility of some progress between now and the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government next September"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 12 Th Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Howe, Fraser, Obasanjo) ["Prime Minister's meeting with the co-Chairmen of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group on South Africa": analysis of the Group's failure and assessment of South Africa's future; MT of the opinion that Mandela's release would be key to a breakthrough] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 12 Th Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Co-Chairmen of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group letter to Shultz (further sanctions against South Africa) ["[our] report will be released today... we are not dealing with a government which wishes to negotiate"; the Group's view on necessary further measures] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 13 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Powell minute for MT ("South Africa") [shown text of President Botha's television statement regarding the declaration of a state of emergency by Worrall; unhelpful; replied that MT attached "particular importance to the position of Mr Mandela"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 13 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Howe minute to MT ("UK Policy towards South Africa") ["resist calls for comprehensive sanctions... new political mechanism to promote dialogue... badly needed to take the place of the Commonwealth Group.... consider... further personal message from you to President Botha... our aim... to settle on a suitable range of measures... We cannot afford to take long over this"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 14 Sa Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation ("South Africa") [Charles Powell, Sonny Ramphal: notice of intention to meet with Presidents Kaunda & Gandhi regarding threatened withdrawal from Commonwealth; request for meeting with MT] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 15 Su Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Lubbers) ["South Africa": Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 16 June: "dramatic developments... [had] strengthened the case for agreeing some action at the European Council... something to be said for deciding one measure at least... tomorrow"; MT resistant] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 16 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: UKE Luxembourg record of conversation ("Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg, 16 June 1986. South Africa") [Howe, EC Foreign Ministers: sanctions] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 16 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: UKHC Harare telegram to FCO ("Armed struggle in South Africa: Mugabe's speech") ["gave priority to armed struggle... [supported] sanctions... by the international community... even if it meant suffering"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 16 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 letter to Howe PS ("South Africa: Motion") [suggests draft amendment for Parliamentary debate on effective measures to oppose apartheid; Howe speech for Debate attached] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 16 Mo Declassified documents Minor Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 letter to Howe PS (message to the Prime Minister from Prime Minister Gandhi) [seeks draft reply] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 16 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 letter to Howe PS (interception of arms and ammunition to the ANC) [details and handling of reply to South African government] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 16 Mo Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Chair of CU Assurance letter to MT (South Africa: the British Business View) ["Thank you for your hospitality today... [I am] enclosing a draft of the statement which the British Industry Committee on South Africa will be putting to its members on Wednesday 18th" ] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 17 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: UKE Cape Town telegram to FCO ("MISC 118") [assessment of the risk of South African goverment banning strategic mineral exports in retaliation for sanctions] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 17 Tu Declassified documents Minor Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 note to Charles Powell (lobby led by Mr. Nubaduala to see the Prime Minister) ["Duty Clerk told them that she was unavailable"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 17 Tu Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Powell briefing for MT ("Ministerial meeting: South Africa") ["We now need to decide how to apply... [our] policy in practice at the European Council on 26/27 June and in the run up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting"; points to consider] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 18 We Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Howe, Lawson, Tebbit, Wakeham, Alan Clark, Robert Armstrong, Percy Cradock) ["South Africa": sanctions] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 19 Th Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: UKE Washington telegram 1630 to FCO (2225Z) ("US/South Africa") [proceedings in Congress; "the chances of an Administration concession have probably in fact increased"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 19 Th Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: UKE Cape Town telegram to FCO ("South Africa: the current mood") ["Government's emergency measures have so far proved broadly successful... in the long run... will solve nothing... seem determined to do their own thing and damn the consequences"; Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 19 Th Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Robert Jackson MP letter to No.10 (sanctions against South Africa) [text of his speech in Parliamentary debate] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 19 Th Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Patrick Wall MP, John Biggs-Davison MP, Ian Lloyd MP, Julian Amery MP, George Gardiner MP, John Carlisle MP) [members of Conservative Back Bench Committee on South Africa: sanctions] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 20 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: UKE Washington telegram 1650 to FCO (2330Z) ("US/South Africa") [US administration under mounting pressure from Congress to impose sanctions: "[should] be able to hold the line - as long as US allies were equally resolute"; Charles Powell annotation: "monstrous that the Foreign Office have not been following this line"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 20 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: FCO record of conversation ("European Political Cooperation: Political Committee: The Hague, 20 June: South Africa") [discussion of further sanctions] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 20 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: MT letter to President Reagan (South Africa: sanctions and dialogue) ["In preparing for the European meeting on 26/27 June, it would be very helpful to me to have a frank account of your thinking"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 20 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Howe) ["South Africa": "at next week's European Council... [MT] said that her strong preference would be to avoid decisions on measures... [Howe] said that he thought that it would be difficult to avoid decisions"; meeting with Tambo] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 20 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation ("South Africa") [Charles Powell, Horst Teltschik: proposed UK/US/W. Germany/France meeting; Howe consultations with US, Japan & other OECD countries, and visit to South Africa; opposition to import bans with particularly damaging effects on black communities] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 20 Fr Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Alan Clark PS letter to No.10 ("South Africa: trade statistics") [data provided at request of MT following Ministerial meeting on 18 June; CDP annotation: "The effect on us of full economic sanctions would be greater than the effect on all the rest of the Commonwealth put together"] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 21 Sa Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Powell minute for MT ("South Africa: telephone call to Chancellor Kohl") [lines to take on sanctions; proposal for Howe to visit South Africa in his capacity as EC President; Kohl proposal for UK/France/W.Germany/US meeting; US position] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 21 Sa Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: CorEU The Hague telegram to All CorEU ("Extraordinary Ministerial meeting on South Africa, the Hague, 26 June 1986") [text of paper for discussion] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 22 Su Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Laurens van der Post) ["danger of a moderate backlash"; release of Mandela; ANC; "Constitutional Convention to discuss South Africa's future"; sanctions; new Army Chief of Staff] [declassified Feb 2016]
PDF 86 Jun 22 Su Declassified documents Major Archive (TNA) South Africa: Powell minute for MT ("South Africa: meeting of Ministers") [draft OD paper: "a defeatist and disappointing document... [aims for] EC consensus... no suggestion that we should try to rally support... against taking measures"; draft Annex: "shows... severe objections to a ban on coal [and steel] imports"] [declassified Feb 2016]

Documents lie at the core of this website, each one dated and sorted chronologically (by default) in search results. Most are images in PDF format of original paper documents scanned or filmed for the site. There also transcripts of speeches and interviews, press articles, photos, videos, and more. The document database contains tens of thousands of items and permits complex searching.

Files are multi-page PDFs from which most of the documents on the site are selected. All of Mrs Thatcher’s official files from No.10 are available in full on this site (paper copies are stored at the National Archives in the series PREM19), as well as most of those of Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson as Chancellor (stored at TNA as series T639 and T640).

Guides are articles about key events and topics. Many were written to accompany annual releases of Mrs Thatcher’s private and party papers at the Churchill Archive Centre in Cambridge.

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