RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE SINGAPORE
TELNO 134
OF 291615Z MAY 92
AND TO IMMEDIATE KUALA LUMPUR, JAKARTA INFO PRIORITY ASEAN POSTS, MODUK, ACTOR
SIC
78
1
B+ pa 1/6.
051465
MDHOAN 5149
TOP COPY Q DIST?
YOUR TELNO 169: JAKARTA TELNO U/N OF 29 MAY AND KUALA LUMPUR TELNO 256: PIRACY IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
83
1.
WE CAN CONFIRM THAT THE SUNDAY TIMES REPORT OF 24 MAY ABOUT POSSIBLE ANTI-PIRACY ACTION BY THE ROYAL NAVY, (A COPY PRECEDED THIS TELEGRAM BY FAX) WAS SPECULATIVE.
2. THE ONLY PROPOSALS WHICH WE AND MOD ARE CONSIDERING AT PRESENT ARE THOSE OUTLINED IN OUR TELNO 111 ON WHICH YOU HAVE ALREADY COMMENTED. WE WILL NOW BE SEEKING APPROVAL TO TAKE THESE PROPOSALS FORWARD. THEY WOULD ONLY ENVISAGE OUR SEEKING THE CONSENT OF COASTAL STATES FOR RN VESSELS ALREADY IN THE AREA ON OTHER BUSINESS OR IN TRANSIT TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM VESSELS UNDER ATTACK IN TERRITORIAL WATERS. RN VESSELS WOULD ONLY RESPOND IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THEY WERE ABLE TO RENDER TIMELY ASSISTANCE. WE DO NOT PROPOSE TO CARRY OUT ANTI-PIRACY PATROLS NOR ANY OTHER FORM OF INDEPENDENT ACTION IN TERRITORIAL WATERS. THERE ARE NO PROPOSALS UNDER CONSIDERATION TO PROVIDE ESCORTS FOR UK-FLAGGED VESSELS.
3.
WE AGREE THE PRESS LINE IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF TUR BUT THIS LINE CAN NOW BE AMENDED TO ACCORD WITH THE LINE WE ARE TAKING WHICH IS AS FOLLOWS:
UK CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ATTACKS ON SHIPPING PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH-EAST ASIAN WATERS.
- WE ARE CONSIDERING WAYS IN WHICH TO COMBAT THIS GROWING MENACE.
BUT RECENT PRESS REPORTS ARE SPECULATIVE. THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR THE ROYAL NAVY TO TAKE ACTION IN TERRITORIAL WATERS WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF
COASTAL STATES AND WE ARE NOT CONSIDERING PROVIDING NAVAL
1
PAGE
RESTRICTED
ろ