Archive

1984 Mar 2 - 1984 Dec 31
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1186
Defence (Defence sales) (Part 4)

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

PREM19/1186 - download whole file (PDF, 81.35 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 20 of 51

Per page:
Date Value Title
84 Jan 16 Mo Major Defence: MT letter to Prime Minister González ('RAPIER' system: British Aerospace consortium with Spanish industry) ["I know that Michael Heseltine has written very recently to Sr Narcis Serra... But I wish to add my own support to the British Aerospace proposals"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Feb 20 Mo Major Defence: Prime Minister González letter to MT ('RAPIER' system: British Aerospace consortium with Spanish industry) [four competing bids from UK, US, West Germany/France and Italy: "we hope to be able to make a final decision soon"] [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 Mar 16 Fr Major Defence: No.10 minute to MT ("Export credit support for Vosper Thorneycroft") [MT advised to call OD or EX committee meeting in order to decide between two potential Vosper Thorneycroft contracts: frigates for Pakistan or fast patrol craft for Kenya] [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 Mar 27 Tu Major Defence: No.10 Policy Unit minute to MT ("Export credit for Pakistan") ["Given Pakistan's financial position, this proposal comes very close to aid, in military form. Pakistan is a poor risk... The prime object of exporting is to get paid, not to win prestige, or cement friendships"] [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 May 1 Tu Major Defence: Tebbit minute to MT ("Tornado for Turkey") ["When you meet Chancellor Kohl on Wednesday I think it would be useful if you could raise [this] with him"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 May 11 Fr Major Defence: Chancellor of the Exchequer minute to Howe ("Western European Union (WEU)") ["It is difficult to believe that yet another forum is needed to discuss defence matters"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 May 11 Fr Major Defence: Chancellor of the Exchequer letter to Tebbit ("Tornados for Turkey") [MT "did not in fact raise this issue [at the Anglo-German Summit]... I am however seriously concerned about the way this proposal was put forward at the last minute without proper consultation"] [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 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 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 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 Jun 15 Fr Major Defence: No.10 minute to MT ("Libya: Defence Sales") ["contracts of potential benefit to terrorists... Martello Surveillance Radars... The Lord Chancellor... thinks that we should try to get other countries to undertake not to supply the radars. Only if they refuse should the contract for Martellos be allowed to stand"] [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 Jul 5 Th Major Defence: No.10 minute to MT ("Libya - current Defence sales business") [Marconi contract for supply of Martello Surveillance Radars: "should be allowed to go ahead only if... France and Italy would not supply... if we cancelled the contract"] [declassified Jan 2014]
84 Jul 5 Th Major Defence: President Zia ul Haq letter to MT (sale of Frigates to Pakistan) ["I have asked Admiral Khan that he should, at the conclusion of the official phase of his visit, carry out detailed discussions with MOD... Several other West European shipyards have expressed a keen interest... on extremely competitive and attractive terms"] [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 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]