CODE 18-77
Reference.....
MRD 040/3
По
раку
No comment passed to MAED (Barton)
J2.13.
Miss Barrett, Legal Advisers
Ако
340/11
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
26 JUN 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
ROUGH'S TOWER
E
1. In December 1989 we sent out Guidance telno 70 copy / attached) about the "Principality of Sealand". As it
makes clear a Mr & Mrs Bates have made claim to the disused gun platform known as "Rough's Tower" of Harwich, and calling it "Sealand".
2.
In response to our Guidance Posts reported that:
a - "Sealand" has appointed a "Minister for Trade, Finance and Industry"
b - "Sealand" has requested diplomatic relations with Niger and Cote d'Ivoire
c "Sealand" has advertised for recruits to its diplomatic service
-
d - "Sealand's" "Secretary for Foreign Affairs" has asked to send a delegation to St. Lucia
e - media in the Gulf have enquired about "Sealand" "passports"
3.
We have also been alerted by DTI's Radio Investigation Service to recent reports of a shooting incident involving a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel (copy attached), which also mention the sale of "passports". DTI's interest is based upon the history of illegal radio broadcasts made from Rough's Tower since the 1960's, also apparently involving Mr Bates. We are not involved in any action arising from the reported shooting incident since Rough's Tower now lies within our 12 mile limit and not (as before October 1987) on the high seas. The current ownership of the Tower is a subject of a "pass the parcel" debate between MOD and the Crown Estate Commissioners.
4.
It is not clear from our file whether we have considered whether any action by HMG would be appropriate as regards the activities of Mr Bates in issuing "passports" and in the other actions listed above which presumably are proper to a sovereign state rather than to a part of the UK. I should be grateful for your comments, and for those of any copy
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.