TNAG-2224-FCO40-3195-Gulf-War-burden-sharing-Hong-Kong-contribution-1991 — Page 149

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Mr Fairweather

Private Secretary

IRAQ/KUWAIT:

PROBLEM

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM:

RH SMITH

DATE:

Cc:

POL/MIL EU

29 January 1991

PS/Mr Hogg

PS/Lord Caithness

PS/PUS

Mr Broomfield

Mr McLaren

14KB 020 13

Mr Goulden

Mr Paul, HKD

Mr Davies, FED

BURDENSHARING: JAPANESE CONTRIBUTION

A

1.

Tokyo telno 82 confirms that the Americans are laying

claim to the whole of the $9 billion earmarked for the

multinational force by the Japanese, which would of course

leave none for the UK. This is producing a problem for the

Japanese. How should we proceed?

RECOMMENDATION

2.

I recommend that we should seek Tokyo's views on the

possibility of Lord Caithness visiting Tokyo at the end of

his current visit to Hong Kong. I submit a draft telegram.

FED and HKD concur, the latter on the assumption that the

Minister will not have to cut short his visit to Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

Our bid for a contribution from the Japanese was

conveyed in a message from the Secretary of State on

3.

CONFIDENTIAL

14