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our request for ammunition. Approaches should also be made
to our other EC partners, including Ireland.
Other NATO countries. Canada is contibuting some naval and
air force elements, but I think we should approach them. Norway, likewise an oil producer, should be asked to do
more, despite also being a modest contributor to the
multi-national force. Obviously not much can be expected
from Iceland, but we should on principle approach them also. On the other hand, Turkey is carrying a heavy burden, and I
do not recommend an approach to her.
Neutral European countries. Sweden, Finland, Austria and
Switzerland have contributed nothing to the military effort, although Sweden has responded rapidly to our request for medical support. These countries may plead their neutrality in response to any request for a contribution to
specifically military costs; but it is nevertheless worth
asking them, even though the Swiss have gone so far as to
embargo arms supplies to all participants in hostilities,
including ourselves.
Of the newly industrialised countries, we should try approaching South Korea, which will be a major beneficiary
of a restoration of stability to the Gulf. The Korean
contribution to date has been small in relation to their
economic strength (though we understand they have given the Americans US$95 million). [Although it might seem odd to
approach a Colony, I believe that an approach to Hong Kong would also be justified.
Oil producing countries have benefited greatly over the past six months from the rise in oil prices. Unfortunately, most non-Gulf oil producers (eg Venezuela, Mexico, Nigeria) are
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