TNAG-2029-FCO40-2891-Hong-Kong-freezing-of-Kuwaiti-and-Iraqi-assets-1990 — Page 5

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY ADEN

TELNO 194

OF 16075OZ OCTOBER 90

CONFIDENTIAL ES1/3.

PaSBS 112

142621 MDLOAN 0045

1.

Mi Hartshorne

417/10

2. Enter & Pr. Mi

AND TO PRIORITY ALGIERS, AMMAN, JERUSALEM, KADUNA, KARACHI

AND TO PRIORITY KHARTOUM, TUNIS, SANAA

INFO PRIORITY OTHER ME POSTS, LAGOS, ISLAMABAD, UKMIS NEW YORK INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, MODUK

MODUK FOR SEC (O) (C) AND DCTS (ROW)

GULF CRISIS: THREAT TO BRITISH COMMUNITIES AND MISSIONS IN THE EVENT OF HOSTILITIES

SUMMARY

1. INSTRUCTIONS TO TAKE PRELIMINARY PRECAUTIONS. DETAIL

2. A NUMBER OF POSTS ARE AWARE THAT WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING THE IMPLICATIONS FOR BRITISH INTERESTS, PRIMARILY IN THE ARAB AND MUSLIM WORLD, OF AN OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES IN THE GULF. 3. THE ISSUE OF THIS TELEGRAM SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN TO MEAN THAT

THE WE REGARD THE RISK OF CONFLICT AS HAVING RECENTLY INCREASED. DIFFICULTY IS THAT TRANSITION TO WAR, IF IT OCCURS, IS LIKELY TO BE VERY SWIFT. IF THERE IS A SERIOUS DETERIORATION IN THE SITUATION OR IF THERE SHOULD BE WARNING THAT HOSTILITIES MAY BE IMMINENT WE WILL SEND FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. MEANWHILE, WE MUST TAKE AS MANY PRECAUTIONS AS POSSIBLE IN GOOD TIME, WORKING GENERALLY ON THE BASIS THAT BRITISH COMMUNITIES SHOULD STAY IN THEIR HOMES AT LEAST IN THE EARLY DAYS OF A CONFLICT, WHICH ARE LIKELY TO BE THE MOST DANGEROUS.

TERRORISM

4. THE RISK OF TERRORISM IS WORLDWIDE BUT SOMEWHAT GREATER WHERE THERE ARE MUSLIM COMMUNITIES. THE RISK WILL SHARPLY INCREASE ON THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES (WHATEVER THEIR IMMEDIATE

WHERE THERE IS SPECIFIC INFORMATION, WE WILL INFORM POSTS CONCERNED IMMEDIATELY BUT ALL POSTS SHOULD EXERCISE THE MAXIMUM VIGILANCE. OTHER BRITISH REPRESENTATIVES OR INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE SIMILARLY WARNED.

RISK OF RIOTS

5.

IT IS, OF COURSE, FOR THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS. WHERE NECESSARY AND

APPROPRIATE THEY SHOULD BE REMINDED OF THIS. IN THOSE COUNTRIES

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL