GR 250
(40)
CONFIDENTIAL TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM KUWAIT 15151ØZ APR 80
TO FLASH FCO
TELNO 174 OF 15/4/89,
AND TO FLASH DTI/CREDA
INFO IMMEDIATE ABU DHABI AND DUBAI.
Action Taken
TELNO CREDA 42 OF 15 APRIL.
1. THE MINISTER FOR TRADE DID NOT (REPEAT NOT) SAY, BEFORE HE
LEFT DUBA! THIS MORNING, THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPOSE
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN AS REQUESTED BY THE U S.
IN THE FACE OF PERSISTENT QUESTIONING ABOUT THE PRIME MINISTER'S
STATEMENT - FROM ONE ONLY (K. BISHTAWI, FT) OF THE JOURNALISTS
PRESENT - MR PARKINSON REMARKED THAT AS HE HAD NOT YET SEEN
THE TEXT OF THE STATEMENT HE DID NOT KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THE
WEEKEND'S CONSULTATIONS AND WOULD NOT COMMENT ON REPORTS HE HAD
NOT SEEN. WHEN ASKED IF THE RECENT MEASURES BY THE U S WERE NOT
SIMPLY ELECTIONEERING, MR PARKINSON MADE IT CLEAR THAT IN HIS
VIEW THE HOLDING OF THE HOSTAGES WAS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS MATTER
AND THAT PRESIDENT CARTER HAD SHOWN CONSIDERABLE SELF-RESTRAINT
OVER THE LAST FIVE MONTHS. IN RESPONSE TO A NUMBER OF
HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS, MR. PARKINSON SAID THAT IT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT ANY ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN WAS CONCERTED
AND EFFECTIVE AND DID NOT CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO THE WEST THAN TO
IRAN, THE MINISTER CONCLUDED THE CONFERENCE BY REPEATING THAT
AS HE HAD NOT SEEN THE PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT HE COULD TAKE
NO MORE QUESTIONS.
2. IN ALL HIS CONTACTS THE PRIME MINISTER IS ALREADY TAKING THE
LINE IN PARAS 3 AND 4 OF TUR.
3. GRATEFUL IF DOT PRESS OFFICE COULD CONTACT PA AND THE FT AND
SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
FCO PLEASE PASS ADVANCE TO PS/SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE,
PS/MINISTER FOR TRADE, DOT PRESS OFFICE.
'ADVANCED AS REQUESTED
CAMBRIDGE
DEPARTMENTAL DISTN
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TEHRAN SPECIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
