FSN 06214
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 61 RESTRICTED 7 MAY 1982
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OFFICER
PA
REGISTRY
ruos Takon
T.F.K.
GRS
RESTRICTED
FM FCO 141545Z MAY 82
TO IMMEDIATE CERTAIN MISSIONS AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
GUIDANCE TELEGRAM NUMBER 96 OF 14 MAY
FALKLANDS: GURKHAS
1. A BATTALION OF GURKHAS FORMS PART OF 5TH INFANTRY BRIGADE
WHICH EMBARKED ON QE2 ON 12 MAY FOR DEPLOYMENT TO THE SOUTH
ATLANTIC. THE ARGENTINES MAY TRY TO DRAW PROPAGANDA ADVANTAGE
FROM THIS BY PORTRAYING THE GURKHAS AS MERCENARIES.
2. IN COUNTERING SUCH PROPAGANDA YOU SHOULD DRAW ON THE POINTS
IN PARA 3 BELOW. YOU MAY IF NECESSARY ALSO DRAW ON THE BACK-
GROUND IN PARA 4 ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT WISH TO DRAW UNDUE ATTENTION
EITHER TO INDIA'S RECRUITMENT OF GURKHAS OR TO OUR DEPLOYMENT
OF GURKHAS IN BELIZE AND BRUNEI.
3. THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS COMPRISES UNITS OF REGULAR TROOPS
WHICH FORM A FULLY INTEGRATED PART OF THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES
AND PERFORM THE SAME DUTIES AS OTHER UNITS AT HOME AND ABROAD
IN DEFENCE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. THEY ARE NOT MERCENARIES.
THE PROTOCOL ADDITIONAL TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 12 AUGUST
1949 CONTAINS THE ONLY INTERNATIONALLY AGREED
DEFINITION OF A MERCENARY. THIS DEFINITION EXCLUDES ANYONE WHO
IS QUOTE A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF A PARTY TO THE CONFLICT
UNQUOTE. IN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
WHICH IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING A POSSIBLE DRAFT CONVENTION AGAINST
MERCENARIES (AND IN WHICH THE UK PARTICIPATES) GENERAL AGREEMENT HAS EMERGED TO ADHERE VERBATIM TO THIS DEFINITION. IN FACT THE PRACTICE OF SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES OF A STATE OF WHICH THE SERVICEMAN IS
NOT A NATIONAL IS FAIRLY WIDESPREAD AND, IN ADDITION, MANY COUNTRIES
SEND LOAN SERVICE PERSONNEL AND CONTRACT OFFICERS ABROAD TO WORK
LEGITIMATELY IN THE ARMED FOCES OF OTHER STATES.
4. THE GURKHAS ARE RECRUITED UNDER THE 1947 TRIPARTITE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF NEPAL, INDIA AND THE UK AND ARE REGULAR SOLDIERS IN THE ARMED FORCES OF ALL THREE COUNTRIES.
THERE ARE SOME 8000 GURKHA TROOPS IN THE BRITISH ARMY. BRITISH
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/ARMY
WP
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