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1982 Nov 15 - 1984 Feb 28
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1185
Defence (Defence sales) (Part 3)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2014 Jan 3
Classification: Confidential
Page count: 435
Any docs withheld?

PREM19/1185 - download whole file (PDF, 76.53 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 48

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Date Value Title
82 Nov 15 Mo Major Defence: Nott PS letter to No.10 ("Defence Sales - Quarterly Report: July-September 1982") ["a generally successful quarter both in terms of sales achieved and progress towards new deals"] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Nov 22 Mo Major Defence: Managing Director of British Aerospace letter to MT (sale of Sea Dart weapon system to China) ["Thank you for your involvement in our success... This will help to secure jobs"] [declassified Jan 2014]
82 Nov 26 Fr Major Defence: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Pym) ["Arms Sales": "recent controversy over French and German arms sales to Argentina"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Jan 13 Th Major Defence: Pym PS letter to No.10 ("Arms Sales") ["you asked for further advice... in the context of the controversy over French and German arms sales to Argentina... Mr Pym is aware that... [his] conclusions amount to an endorsement of the status quo... he will be happy to discuss this further"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Feb 3 Th Major Defence: FRG Ministry of Defence letter to No.10 (export of Tornado engine to India) ["I would like to confirm this advance information in writing and refer to the conditions which were the basis for the agreement"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Feb 15 Tu Major Defence: Lord Cockfield letter to Heseltine ("Sale of Tornado to Greece: credit terms") ["I entirely agree with you about the importance of gaining this order for Britain... I have now authorised ECGD to increase the credit portion to 85% in line with... our German and Italian partners"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Feb 16 We Major Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("China - Project 051") ["contracts signed on 10th November 1982 with UK Industry... We confirmed our approval... but the Chinese have so far withheld theirs"; attached letter from Heseltine to Chinese Minister of Defense] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Feb 21 Mo Major Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("Defence Sales - Quarterly Report: October - December 1982") ["total value of contracts signed during the year... compared with the 1981 total... an increase of... 16% in real terms.. the general picture on prospects... in 1983 is optimistic"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Mar 14 Mo Major Defence: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 (message from Australian Minister for Defence: aircraft carriers for Australia) [decision not to proceed; line to take] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Mar 17 Th Major Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("Tornado for Greece") ["could be worth approximately £500m to the UK and maintain employment for some 2,000 workers... export orders are urgently needed... We face fierce French and American competition"; draft letter from MT to Papandreou] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Mar 24 Th Major Defence: MT message to Prime Minister Papandreou (Tornado) ["I believe that the purchase of Tornado would demonstrate the importance attached by all the Government[s] concerned] to defence co-operation on a European basis"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 May 12 Th Major Defence: Prime Minister Papandreou letter to MT (sale of Tornado) [terms sought by Greece for the loan agreement and procurement of defence articles] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 May 17 Tu Major Defence: UKE Athens telegram to FCO ("Sale of Tornado") [Geoffrey Pattie, Papandreou, Zakolikos: record of discussion: "clear that the Greeks want Tornado, for reasons including its European provenance"; MT concerned about having not yet received letter from Papandreou referred to in the telegram] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Jun 2 Th Major Defence: MT letter to Prime Minister Gandhi (Westland Sea King helicopter and British Aerospace Sea Eagle missile) ["delighted to hear that the Sea King is your Government's preferred choice... This will give the prospects for future defence collaboration between India and Britain timely encouragement"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Jun 6 Mo Major Defence: MT letter to Prime Minister Papandreou (Tornado) ["Partnership in this venture, alongside the three current members of the consortium [UK, West Germany, Italy] would lead... to longer term co-operation in the defence, political and economic spheres"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Jun 15 We Major Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("Jaguar for Nigeria") [British Aerospace contract & loan agreement] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Jun 20 Mo Major Defence: No.10 letter to Heseltine PS ("Tornado") [prospective sale; note that MT was unable to raise issue with Prime Minister of Greece at European Council] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Jun 23 Th Major Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("Defence Sales Quarterly Report - January to March 1983") ["If this level of business can be maintained throughout 1983 we can look forward to a good end year result"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Jun 24 Fr Major Defence: Prime Minister Gandhi letter to MT (Westland Sea King helicopter and Sea Eagle missile) ["You will be glad to know that we have decided to buy"] [declassified Jan 2014]
83 Jul 18 Mo Major Defence: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 ("Defence sales to Guyana - vehicles and ammunition") ["to follow up the two... points made by President Burnham during his meeting with... [MT] of Tuesday"] [declassified Jan 2014]