RESTRICTED
75)
034015 MDLIAN 1,952
RESTRICTED
FM MANILA
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 393
OF 160721Z SEPTEMBER 92
74
НКС
175/1
ра
см
FCO TELNO 292 TO JAKARTA: PIRACY
1. THE ADVICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT'S DRAFT MERCHANT SHIPPING NOTICE ON PIRACY AND ARMED ROBBERY SEEMS SENSIBLE AND WE HAVE NOTHING TO ADD. AS WE REPORTED IN OUR TELNOS 221 AND 340 THE PROBLEM IN THE PHILIPPINES IS ONE OF SMALL SCALE BANDITRY RATHER THAN ORGANISED ATTACKS ON MERCHANT SHIPPING. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ATTACKS ON BRITISH VESSELS.
2.
IF AN ATTACK DOES TAKE PLACE IN PHILIPPINE WATERS IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS, TELEPHONE MANILA 48-32-57 OR 40-02-90. BUT WE DOUBT WHETHER MUCH PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE COULD BE PROVIDED BY THE COAST GUARD WHICH IS SMALL, INEFFICIENT AND ILL EQUIPPED. WE WERE DISTURBED TO SEE THAT THESE INADEQUACIES WERE NOT REFLECTED IN WILLIAMS (AMD) LETTER OF 24 AUGUST TO PRESTON (SEC NS, MOD), WHICH WRONGLY DESCRIBED THE PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES AS EFFECTIVE AGAINST PIRACY.
MONTGOMERY
YYYY
MAIN
71
AMD
SEAD
HKD
LAD
WED
WIAD
SPD
ADDITIONAL
5
DISTRIBUTION
76
LEGAL ADVISERS
AD (E)
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
PS/MR GOODLAD
MR CROWE
MR BONE
MR MASEFIELD