◆ SpookStack

CONFIDENTIAL c OrriL-c Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH 3 November 1978 , 3C7S&.J -ILCIG INSTRUCTIONS Ugandan Attack on Tanzania Thank you for your letter of 1 November in*T?e"ply to my letter to Bryan Cartledge of 31 October. Dr Owen has seen your letter, together with Kingsley Jones' letter of 1 November convey- ing the views of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. You will have seen from Dar-es-Salaam telno 757 (copy enclosed) that President Nyerere's principal concern is that we stop the supply of oil to Uganda. Our High Commissioner has explained to him the problems posed by this request. Dr Owen thinks that we ought to show President Nyerere that we support him in the face of Ugandan oppression and are prepared to do what we can to help. Our inability to stop the oil flow makes this more important still. Dr Owen recognises the diffi- culties about providing arms for Tanzania and no request has been forthcoming. However, President Nyerere has mentioned to our High Commissioner that he faces difficulties because of the strength of President Amin's tank force. As you know, the Tanzanian Government have on order 36 Scorpion tanks, for which their people have received training. The first four of the Scorpions are, I understand, due to be shipped from Hull next week, with ammunition due to follow a month later. Dr Owen would like to be able to tel^ President Nyerere that we would be prepared to fly the four Scorpions (plus ammunition) to Tanzania as soon as possible. This could make a practical contributionrto his defence forces and would show our concern to help him. We would not, however, be taking on any new commitment - merely speeding up supply of an existing order. Transporting the Scorpions and ammunition would presumably require the use of 2 or 3 RAF Hercules aircraft. Dr Owen hopes that Mr Mulley could agree that these aircraft should be made available and that the Government should bear the additional cost over and above the shipping costs already paid for by the /Tanzanians R Jackling Esq Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence CONFIDENTTAT