Archive

Large scale document archive

1985 May 30 - 1985 Nov 29
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1445
Defence (Ballistic missile defence: United States Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI); UK participation in research programme) (Part 3)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2014 Dec 30
Classification: Secret
Page count: 285
Themes: British relations with the US, Foreign policy (USA), Foreign policy (USSR & successor states), Foreign policy (Western Europe - non-EU), Defence (general), Defence (arms control), Industry, Science & technology

PREM19/1445 - download whole file (PDF, 52.21 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 38

Date Value Title
85 May 1 We Major Defence: Robert Armstrong minute to No.10 (“Defence Scientific Adviser’s minute on the SDI research programme and “Star Wars”) [declassified 2014]
85 May 13 Mo Major Defence: FCO minute to No.10 (“SDI and ABM Treaty”) [new Pentagon statement on SDI] [declassified 2014]
85 May 15 We Major Defence: FCO to UKE Vienna (“Breakfast Meeting of Five Foreign Ministers: Preparations for NATO Ministerial Meeting at Lisbon”) [SDI, East-West relations] [declassified 2014]
85 May 17 Fr Major Defence: FCO minute to No.10 (“Message to Mr. Shultz from the Foreign Secretary”) [Howe’s meeting with Gromyko in Vienna, European support for the SDI research] [declassified 2014]
85 May 22 We Major Defence: MOD record of conversation (Heseltine-Weinberger) [taxation, defence budget, SDI, arms control] [declassified 2014]
85 May 23 Th Major Defence: UKE Paris to FCO (“Genscher Visit to Paris, 22-23 May”) [the SDI research programme, Eureka] [declassified 2014]
85 May 28 Tu Major Defence: Heseltine minute to MT (“British Participation in Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) Research”) [MT: "The GERMANS have got further than we have. This won't do"] [declassified 2014]
85 Jun 5 We Major Defence: State Department Fact Sheet (“The Strategic Defence Initiative”) [direction and scope of the SDI research programme] [declassified 2014]
85 Jun 5 We Major Defence: Robert Armstrong minute to MT (“Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI)”) [UK participation; pace "may not be adequate"] [declassified 2014]
85 Jun 25 Tu Major Defence: UKE Rome to FCO (“Vice President Bush’s Visit to Italy”) [SDI-Geneva negotiations, Jordan-PLO, EC-US trade issues] [declassified 2014]
85 Jul 5 Fr Major Defence: Powell minute to MT (“SDI Research”) [MOD line at upcoming OD; MT: "Their attitude WON'T DO AT ALL"] [declassified 2014]
85 Jul 10 We Major Defence: Cabinet Office briefing for MT (“Meeting of OD at 9 am on Friday 12 July: Strategic Defence Initiative Research (SDI): United Kingdom Participation”) [OD(85)15] [declassified 2014]
85 Jul 10 We Major Defence: Policy Unit minute for MT (“SDI Research: UK Participation”) ["Our participation is worth a high price and the Americans expect to pay one"] [declassified 2014]
85 Jul 19 Fr Major Defence: Powell minute to MT (“UK Participation in SDI”) [changes to Heseltine's proposed line with Weinberger] [declassified 2014]
85 Jul 22 Mo Major Defence: MOD record of conversation (Heseltine-Weinberger) [UK participation in SDI research, defence equipment trade, arms sales to Argentina] [declassified 2014]
85 Jul 23 Tu Major Defence: Heseltine minute to MT (“British Participation in SDI Research”) [meeting with Weinberger; Powell wonders if Heseltine's demand for 5 percent was a "wrecking bid"] [declassified 2014]
85 Jul 30 Tu Major Defence: MOD letter to No.10 (“SDI Research”) [Heseltine’s draft letter to Weinberger on terms of British participation in SDI research] [declassified 2014]
85 Jul 30 Tu Major Defence: No.10 letter to MOD (“SDI Research”) [MT attaches great importance to keeping up the momentum on UK involvement in SDI research] [declassified 2014]
85 Jul 31 We Major Defence: Powell note to MT (Heseltine’s letter to Weinberger on UK participation in the SDI) [MT rejects draft; Pentagon worries whether UK can deliver] [declassified 2014]
85 Aug 28 We Major Defence: MOD letter to No.10 (“SDI Research: UK Participation”) [possible British terms] [declassified 2014]