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Archive (Reagan Library)

Middle East: Reagan call to Thatcher (Lockerbie) [talking points] [unclassified]

Document type: Declassified documents
Venue: White House - 10 Downing Street
Source: Reagan Library: Presidential Handwriting File: Records Presidential Telephone Calls (Folder 215)
Editorial comments: MT took the call 1800-1815 UK time at No.10 (Thatcher appointment diary, 22 December 1988). It appears that no memorandum of the conversation was made on the US side.
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 236 words
Themes: Foreign policy (Middle East), Foreign policy (USA), Terrorism, Transport, MT contacts with Ronald Reagan

(1) Cover note:

[Not classified]

The White House,
Washington

The President has seen 12/22/88
1988 DEC 22 PM 12:11

RECOMMENDED TELEPHONE CALL

TO: Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
DATE: December 22, 1988
RECOMMENDED BY: Colin L. Powell
PURPOSE: To thank Mrs. Thatcher for her expression of sorrow over the Pan Am 103 tragedy.
SECURE OR OPEN: Open line call
INTERPRETER: None required.
PHONE NUMBER: [Witheld by editor.]
CONTACT PERSON: Charles Powell, Special Assistant to the PM
TIME DIFFERENCE: +5 hours
SUGGESTED TIMES: 1:00pm – 1:15pm
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION: Pan Am Flight 103 Tragedy. (See attached points to be made)

Date of submission: December 22, 1988

ACTION: [RR annotated:] “Call Made”

(2) Talking Points:

POINTS TO BE MADE WITH PRIME MINISTER THATCHER

-- Margaret, I understand you have just returned from the site of the Pan Am crash.
-- I want to thank you for your expression of sorrow on the Pan Am 103 tragedy.
-- On behalf of the American people, I also want to thank the rescue workers who responded so quickly and courageously.
-- Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this accident, both the passengers on the plane and the villagers in Scotland , and with their loved ones.