PREM19/1186: Defence (Defence sales) (Part 4) | Margaret Thatcher Foundation

Source:	TNA, PREM19 series
Release date:	2014 Jan 3
Classification:	Confidential
Page count:	454
Any docs withheld?	2

Date	Value	Title
84 Dec 11 Tu	Major	Defence: MT letter to Kenneth Warren MP (sale of Tornado to Turkey) ["There is no question of our using double standards for ECGD exposure in any given market"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Nov 21 We	Major	Defence: MT letter to Chairman of British Aerospace PLC (sale of Tornado to Turkey) [credit support: "the financial risks for the Government... are unacceptably high"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Jul 19 Th	Major	Defence: Ministry of Defence record of conversation (sale of frigates to Pakistan) [Geoffrey Pattie, Admiral Khan] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Jun 25 Mo	Major	Defence: Managing Director of British Aerospace PLC letter to Tebbit ("Tornados for Turkey") ["as a result of my visit to Turkey... they have indicated an intention to proceed... subject to confirmation of the terms offered in my letter... I would like to outline the importance of this decision so that all the factors concerned may be taken into account"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Apr 11 We	Major	Defence: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("Spain: Rapier") ["You asked for background on the Spanish Government's recent decision to buy the Franco-German Roland missile system in preference to Rapier"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Mar 26 Mo	Major	Defence: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 ("Rapier") [MT "has... agreed... to send a message to Sr Moran on the subject of Gibraltar. In light of this... we do not envisage any further action at the moment"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 May 14 Mo	Major	Defence: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 ("Helicopters for RAN Frigates: support for Westlands") ["Mr Hayden's visit to London provides an excellent opportunity to give the Westlands case timely support"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Sep 27 Th	Major	Defence: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 ("Frigates to Pakistan") [draft MT reply to President Zia-ul-Haq; "there have been long consultations... in an attempt to make an improved credit offer without increasing ECGD's commitment"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Mar 2 Fr	Major	Defence: Heseltine PS letter to No.10 ("Credit for Defence sales to India") ["Although the ECGD system appeared to be acceptable, clearly the normal terms applicable were not... Credit terms are clearly going to play an important part in our efforts to secure a major piece of the Indian defence market"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 May 16 We	Major	Defence: Heseltine PS letter to Howe PS ("Sale of Tornado to Saudi Arabia") [need for ongoing confidentiality, with deal nearly clinched] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Nov 19 Mo	Major	Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("Sale of Tornado and Hawk to Saudi Arabia") [report on visit to Saudi Arabia/talks with King Fahd & Prince Sultan; criticism of Saudi royal family in British press; "I do not believe that the deal is necessarily lost, but I am not optimistic about the outcome"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Dec 10 Mo	Major	Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("Quarterly Report on Defence Sales and Prospects 1st July to 30th September 1984") ["very disappointing... sales in the first three quarters of 1984 some 29% lower than for the same period in 1983"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Jun 6 We	Major	Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("Quarterly Report on Defence Sales and Prospects 1st January 1984 - 31st March 1984") ["disappointing following our highly successful achievements in 1983"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Aug 30 Th	Major	Defence: Heseltine minute to MT ("Quarterly Report on Defence Sales and Prospects 1st April - 30th June 1984") ["disappointing... with sales in the first half of 1984 now some 18 percent less in cash terms than for the same period in 1983"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Jun 6 We	Major	Defence: Heseltine minute to Howe ("Libya - current Defence sales business") [results of review undertaken "with the aim of terminating any contracts... of potential benefit to terrorist activity"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Aug 6 Mo	Major	Defence: Heseltine letter to Tebbit ("Frigates for Pakistan") ["to seek your agreement to a way forward that would allow... [MT] to write in positive terms in reply to President Zia's most recent letter... it seems clear that the only way... would be for ECGD to provide increased indemnity"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Sep 4 Tu	Major	Defence: Heseltine letter to Chancellor of the Exchequer ("Mobile Subscriber Equipment") [problems Plessey face in bidding for US Army battlefield communications system ... "The potential size of the contract is enormous ... an MOD scheme, as proposed by Plessey, under which we would agree to buy from them, at predetermined rates, all the dollars they received under the contract"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Jul 20 Fr	Major	Defence: Geoffrey Pattie letter to Tebbit ("Frigates for Pakistan") ["I am writing to seek your agreement to an increase in the level of UK credit to £200m"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Dec 21 Fr	Major	Defence: FCO telegram 2180 to UKE Washington (1800Z) ("Saudi Arabia: Tornado") [need to show Saudis that UK emphasising concern to US government about Arab/Israeli dispute, if Tornado deal to be saved; Howe advising MT message to King Fahd, and Ambassador Wright call Prince Bandar after MT talks with Reagan] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Dec 14 Fr	Major	Defence: Defence briefing for MT ("Call by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Ambassador in Washington, on the Prime Minister - 17th December 1984") [sale of Tornado to Saudi Arabia; Arab/Israeli conflict; MT forthcoming talks with Reagan] [declassified Jan 2014]