of this kind, I can think in particular of the contributions made by
Churchill and Macmillan. Our purpose is to continue in that tradition, in
close consultation with our allies. I hope that we shall get a constructive
response from the Soviet Union.
Gulf War
26. We share with the Soviet Union the belief that the Gulf War is a
pointless struggle. But nevertheless it represents a potential threat to
the Gulf region as a whole. That means the strategic political and
economic interests of the UK and the West as a whole are also at risk.
There are obvious implications for the West's oil supplies. The risk of
disruption should not be exaggerated; but it is there, and must not be
ignored.
27. On the one hand, about 8 Million barrels of oil are shipped through the
Straits of Hormuz each day 1/5 of free world supplies. On the other
hand, the position at the moment is that, were the Straits to be closed,
surplus capacity elsewhere in the world could reduce the actual shortfall
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