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SECRET Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH 31 October 1978 CABINET OFFICE j A 4 FILING INSTRUCTIONS FILE No Ugandan Attack on Tanzania Dar-es-Salaam telegram numbers 744 and 745 (copies enclosed) report a meeting between President Nyerere, our High Commissioner and the United States Ambassador in Dar-es-Salaam at which President Nyerere revealed that Uganda had launched an attack into his territory. Up-to-date secret material presents a confused picture but it does appear that the Ugandans have launched an attack perhaps of brigade strength with tanks. We do not know President Amin's motive but this could be a desperate throw in an effort to rally his increasingly disloyal troops with allegations of Tanzanian aggression. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary believes that President Nyerere must regard the situation as grave to turn to us and the United States for help. He believes that it is in our political interests to respond to President Nyerere's approach by indicating our willingness to help within practical limits. Dr Owen would like to send instructions to Peter Moon as soon as possible on the lines of the enclosed draft telegram. You will see that there is only a little that we could possibly offer given the equipment which we have already committed to Zambia. There is the further point, which the Defence Secretary has made in conversation with Dr Owen,, that Tanzania has received much of her training and supplies hitherto from China and this must place a practical limit on our ability to help. The draft telegram is, therefore, careful to make no specific offer of equipment. Dr Owen would be grateful for the Prime Minister's agreement to its despatch. The Prime Minister may also wish to know that some days ago we were in touch with Shell/BP, who supply 30% of Uganda's oil requirements, following the Congressional embargo on trade with Uganda. We established that Shell/BP were taking steps to avoid meeting the shortfall caused by the fact that US companies have now ceased all supply to Uganda. This was made easier for them by the fact that the Ugandans were seriously in arrears in their payments for earlier supplies. B G Cartledge Esq