Archive

1979 Jun 20 - 1987 Aug 5
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/2535
Soviet Union (Domestic scene: Soviet leadership succession (Brezhnev, Andropov, Chernenko, Gorbachev)) (Part 2)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2017 Dec 29
Classification: Secret
Page count: 337
Any docs withheld? 6

PREM19/2535 - download whole file (PDF, 340.75 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 35

Per page:
Date Value Titlesort descending
87 Aug 5 We Major Soviet Union: Charles Powell minute to MT ("Interview with Life Magazine: Gorbachev") ["I attach copies of Gorbachev's main speeches on which you wanted to refresh your memory before your interview with Life Magazine"] [released Dec 2017]
79 Jun 20 We Major Soviet Union: Christopher Mallaby minute to Ewen Fergusson ("Soviet Leadership") [analysis of potential successors to the ailing Brezhnev & their prospective policies] [released Dec 2017]
83 Nov 7 Mo Major Soviet Union: FCO briefing for MT ("Anglo/German Summit: East/West Relations") [supplementary briefing on Andropov's health, following his failure to appear at October Revolution celebrations] [released Dec 2017]
85 Mar 13 We Major Soviet Union: FCO minute to No.10 ("Soviet Statements on Nuclear Weapons") [response to MT query prompted by reference in Gorbachev election speech to complete elimination of nuclear weapons] [released Dec 2017]
83 Nov 24 Th Major Soviet Union: FCO telegram to UKE New Delhi (1600Z) ("Situation Report: 23/24 November") [Lebanon; Cyprus; Grenada; Andropov's health/public appearances] [released Dec 2017]
85 Nov 28 Th Major Soviet Union: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("CPSU New Party Programme") ["should succeed in sending you to sleep!" - Charles Powell; text & FCO minute attached, analyzing contrast between latest edition & previous edition published in 1961] [released Dec 2017]
84 Apr 11 We Major Soviet Union: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("Possible Message to the New Soviet President") [draft message of congratulations from the Queen, tempered at MT's request; Chernenko's inauguration speech] [released Dec 2017]
83 Jun 20 Mo Major Soviet Union: Howe PS letter to No.10 ("Soviet Central Committe Plenum and Supreme Soviet Session -14-16 June") [report on Andropov's election; personnel changes; idealogy; relations with 'socialist' countries; relations with the West] [released Dec 2017]
82 Nov 22 Mo Major Soviet Union: Lord Thomas letter to MT (election of Andropov) [reactions of three experts on Soviet Union] [released Dec 2017]
83 Jul 25 Mo Major Soviet Union: No.10 minute to Cabinet Office ("Andropov's Health") [cover note only, acknowledging receipt of minute read "with interest" by MT] [released Dec 2017]
79 Aug 10 Fr Major Soviet Union: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Curtis Keeble) [effect of harvest failure on Soviet foreign policy; discontent in Soviet society; dissidents & monitoring of Helsinki Agreement; likely successors to Brezhnev; UK/Soviet energy symposium] [released Dec 2017]
85 Jul 2 Tu Major Soviet Union: Percy Cradock minute to Charles Powell ("Soviet Leadership") [election of Gromyko as President of the USSR, of Shevardnadze as Foreign Minister, and the disappearance of Romanov] [released Dec 2017]
82 Nov 19 Fr Major Soviet Union: Pym PS letter to No.10 ("The Brezhnev Succession") [FCO analysis of Andropov's first two weeks in office & biographical information] [released Dec 2017]
83 Jul 12 Tu Major Soviet Union: UKE Bonn telegram 706 to FCO (1439Z) ("Andropov's Health") [West Germany delegation's assessment of likely short-term impact on Soviet policies] [released Dec 2017]
85 Sep 2 Mo Major Soviet Union: UKE Moscow telegram 1128 to FCO (1500Z) ("Gorbachev's Interview with Time Magazine: Comment") [summary & analysis] [released Dec 2017]
83 Feb 1 Tu Major Soviet Union: UKE Moscow telegram 114 to FCO (1300Z) ("The Soviet Leadership: Andropov") [analysis of his leadership style, based on recent Pravda report] [released Dec 2017]
85 Sep 25 We Major Soviet Union: UKE Moscow telegram 1267 to FCO (0750Z) ("Resignation of Tikhonov") [details & analysis; Ryzhkov succeeds] [released Dec 2017]
85 Feb 1 Fr Major Soviet Union: UKE Moscow telegram 133 to FCO (1245Z) ("The Soviet Leadership") [indications from Party leadership schedules of Chernenko's illness] [released Dec 2017]
82 Mar 17 We Major Soviet Union: UKE Moscow telegram 141 to FCO (1400Z) ("Brezhnev's Speech to the Soviet Trade Union Congress") [summary & analysis] [released Dec 2017]
83 Dec 27 Tu Major Soviet Union: UKE Moscow telegram 1473 to FCO (0828Z) ("Central Committee Plenum") [leadership changes; Andropov's health] [released Dec 2017]