https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/55da432ff93628b043b513b656bba34d.pdf e2961583afb30522a3e96daf08395cf7 PDF Text Text A* no copfH r p.v.o( ) PCO (WALLS) PPR(REVD) FLE(US. •^ PSI • ) y. S—y FCO(STANSFIELD) GCO(PUDDINGTON) DEFT OF JUSTIC;(CHRISTIE) SOLICITOR GEN(HOFLEY) USSEA(RITCHIE) SSEA / - F ! U N C L A S S I F I E D FM LDN O C T 6 / 7 0 NO/NO STANDARD TO EXTER 3 3 1 5 FLASH REF OURTEL 3 3 1 1 0CT6 KIDNAPPING OF BRIT OFFICIAL FOLLOWING I S EXCERPT FROM STATEMENT BY LORD SHEPHERD IN HOUSE OF LORDS A P R 3 0 : BEGINS I TURN NOW TO THE PROBLEM OF THE KIDNAPPING OF DIPLOMATS,THE NOBLE LORD,LORD SHERFIELD,SAID THAT DIPLOMACYS BECOMING AN I N CREASINGLY DANGEROUS OCCUPATION.THJS I S A NEW THREAT, ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE: IT I S NEW PERHAPS FOR THE IMPLICATIONS THAT LIE BEHIND THE KIDNAPPING.I CAN ONLY SAY TO THE NOBLE LORD,LORD SHERFIELD,THAT I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH OUR DIPLOMATIC SERVICE OVERSEAS,AND PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH AMERICA,AND THEY ARE TAKING THEIR TRADITIONAL VIEW OF THE SITUATION AND ARE NOT UNDULY CONCERNED.ALTHOUGH SO FAR THE KIDNAPPING HAS OCCURRED IN A LIMITED NUMBER OF COUNTRIES,I THINK IT RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD RECOGNISE THAT IT COULD WELL OCCUR IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.AND WHILE THE A C T I V I T I E S OF KIDNAPPERS HAVE SO FAR BEEN DIRECTED AGAINST AMBASSADORS AND SENIOR DIPLOMATIC OR CONSULAR STAFF,WE CANNOT EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT ATTACKS OF THIS SORT MIGHT BE MADE ON JUNIOR STAFF OP EVEN ON WIVES !\MD FAMILIES OF OUR DIPLOMATS; THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF AN AMBASSADOR AND HIS STAFF L I E S WITH THE HOST GOVT.THIS I S STATED CLEARLY IN ART 000503 o . e o y.. �PAGE TWO 53 J5 UNCLAS TWENTYNINE OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS,AND IS ALSO ESTABLISHED BY LONG INTERNATIONAL TRADITION AND PRECEDENT. INDEED, IT IS THE BASIS TO THE EFFICIENT CONDUCT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THAT ACCREDITED REPS SHOULD BE FREE AND SECURE TO GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.] BELIEVE THAT VIRTUALLY ALL GOVTS IN THE WORLD ARE AWARE OF AND ACCEPT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.I AM EQUALLY SURE THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO PROTECT THE DIPLOMATS STATIONED IN THEIR COUNTRIES. AT THE SAME TIME,WE HAVE TO RECOGNISE THAT,WITH THE BEST WILL IN THE WORLD,NO COUNTRY CAN GIVE COMPLETE AND ABSOLUTE PROTECTION AGAINST THE KIDNAPPING OF DIPLOMATS ANY MORE THAN AGAINST OTHER FORMS OF CRIME.IN THE LAST ANALYSIS,IF INADEQUATE PROTECTION IS AFFORDED TO DIPLOMATS BY THE AUTHORITIES IN THE COUNTRY CONCERNED,THE ONLY COMPLETE SOLUTION LIES IN THE DRASTIC REDUCTION,OR EVEN TOTAL CLOSURE,OF THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS CONCERNED,ACTION OF THIS KIND WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE TAKEN ONLY IN THE VERY LAST RESORT,IF IT APPEARED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY OF ENSURING THE SAFETY CF OUR DIPLOMATIC STAFF IN A GIVEN COUNTRY. THE PROBLEM IS MADE ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT BY THE READINESS OF KIDNAPPERS TO SEIZE HOSTAGES AT RANDOM.THE LATE GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO GUATEMALA,AS THE NOBLE LORD,LORD ERROLL,SAID,SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SEIZED BY HIS KIDNAPPERS SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WAS A PROMINENT PERSON WHOSE CAPTURE WOULDSTHEY BELIEVED,ENSURE THEM THE BARGAINING HM-di: AND i'lipi.J01i V THtt'J i HFY DESIRED- II IS THUS �PAGE THREE 3 3 1 5 UNCLAS NECESSARY FOR A GOVT TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION NOT JUST FOR THE REPS OF COUNTRIES WITH WHOSE POLICY THE KIDNAPPERS MAY BE ASSUMED TO DISAGREE BUT FOR ALL DIPLO REPS,IRRESPECTIVE OF THE POLICY OF THEIR COUNTRIES. ALTHOUGH,AS I HAVE SAID,THE HOST GOVT HAS THE FULL FORMAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING A DIPLOMATS SAFETY,UE THINK IT RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD ALSO TAKE CARE TO ENSURE THAT OUR STAFFS OVERSEAS ARE PROVIDED WITH ANY ADDITIONAL HELP FROM OUR OUN RESOURCES WHICH MAY SEEM PRACTICABLE AND DESIRABLE IN THE LIGHT OF LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES.UE HAD IN FACT ISSUED GUIDANCE TO ALL OUR OVERSEAS MISSIONS LAST YEAR ON PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WHICH MIGHT BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF KIDNAPPING.MORE RECENTLY WE HAVE CONSULTED MANY OF OUR POSTS ON THE NEED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL MEASURES.FOR OBVIOUS REASONS,! CANNOT REVEAL IN DETAIL WHAT THESE MEASURES ARE, BUT I CAN ASSURE THE HOUSE THAT WE ARE VERY CONCERNED AT THE DANGER AND HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN TRYING TO REDUCE A SECURITY EXPERT FROM THE FOREIGN AND COMWEL OFFICE IT. IS AT PRESENT TOURING A NUMBER OF OUR MISSIONS IN LATIN AMERICA TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AT FIRST HAND,TO ADVISE MISSIONS ON WHAT FURTHER PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE INSTITUTED IMMEDLY AND,WHERE NECESSARY,TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION IN THE LONGER TERM THAT WOULD REDUCE THE RISK TO A MINIMUM,I HAVE SEEN THE QUOTE SHOPPING LIST UNQUOTE,! HAVE ALSO SEEN THE ACTION TAKEN AND WOULD ASSURE THE HOUSE THAT WHERE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MADE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN.WE ARE ALSO ISSUING FURTHER GUIDANCE TO ALL CUR POSTS OVERSEAS,BAGZD a a aH 000505 �• PAGE FOUR 33 15 UNCLAS ON THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM RECENT EVENTS IN LATIN AMERICA.I SINCERELY HOPE AND TRUST THAT NO KIDNAPPING ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE AGAINST ANY MEMBER OF OUR MISSIONS OVERSEAS.BUT IF AN ATTEMPT WERE MADE,THEY ARE AS READY FOR IT AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE,TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THEIR DUTIES ARE.AN OVERSEAS MISSION THAT IS CONFINED TO ITS COMPOUND MIGHT AS WELL NOT BE THERE AT ALL.THE PURPOSE OF A MISSION IS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND,NOT ONLY BETWEEN EMBASSY AND GOVT BUILDINGS,BUT ALSO TO SENSE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE. I NEED HARDLY ADD THAT HER MAJESTYS GOVT ARE ALSO GIVING DUE ATTN TO THE PROTECTION OF DIPLO REPS IN LDN.AGAIN IT WOULD BE UNWISE FOR ME TO GO INTO DETAIL,BUT THE HOUSE MAY WISH TO SEE THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM.WE HAVE SOME SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE,WITH THEIR FAMILIES,REPRESENTING DIPLO MISSIONS.IT IS A VERY SIZEABLE PROBLEM,BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SCOTLAND YARD,WHO HAVE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY,ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE DANGERS AND ARE TAKING THE NECESSARY ACTION. SO FAR I HAVE DEALT ONLY WITH THE IMMED QUESTION OF HOW TO AVOID OR DETER POTENTIAL KIDNAPPERS.WHILE UE HAVE BEEN TAKING ACTION ON THIS MATTER WE HAVE ALSO BEEN CONSIDERING WHAT MEASURES WOULD BE TAKEN INNATELY TO PUT AN END TO THIS THREAT. IMMEDLY AFTER THE MURDER OF THE GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO GUATEMALA WE INITIATED CONSULTATIONS WITH A NUMBER OF GOVTS WHO FACED PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO OUR OWN.WE HAVE EXCHANGED IDEAS,BOTH ON THE IMMED PROBLEM 07 PROTECTION AND ON THE POSSIBILITIES OF 000506 �PAGE FIVE 3315 UNCLAS A LONGER-TERM SOLUTION.WE ARE ANXIOUS TO ENSURE THAT ALL USEFUL IDEAS ARE FULLY CONSIDERED.IT WOULD,HOWEVER,BE WRONG TO SUPPOSE THAT ANY FORM OF INNATL ACTION OR AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO PRODUCE EFFECTIVE RESULTS IN THE SHORT TERM.THE LEGAL POSITION IS ALREADY PERFECTLY CLEAR.VIRTUALLY NO GOVT CONDONES ATTACKS ON DIPLOMATS ACCREDITED TO IT OR REFUSES TO RECOGNISE KIDNAPPING AS A CRIME.THE PROBLEM IS THEREFORE NOT TO ESTABLISH A LEGAL BASIS FOR ACTION AGAINST THE KIDNAPPERS,BUT TO FIND MEANS OF DETERRING KIDNAPPERS FROM VIOLATING EXISTING LAWS, VARIOUS IDEAS HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED.FOR EXAMPLE,THERE IS THE PROPOSAL TO OBTAIN INNATL AGREEMENT THAT PRISONERS RELEASED AS A RESULT OF KIDNAPPING SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM IN A THIRD COUNTRY.THAT IDEA HAS OBVIOUS ATTRACT IONS,BUT I AM NOT AT ALL SURE THAT IT WOULD COMMAND UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE. LEAVING ASIDE THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH ARE ILL-DISPOSED TOWARDS THE WEST AND WHOSE ATTITUDE TOWARDS KIDNAPPING OF A WESTERN DIPLO REP ELSEWHERE MIGHT BE DOUBTFUL,MANY COUNTRIES HAVE LONG-ESTABLISHED,HONOURABLE TRADITIONS OF GRANTING POLITICAL ASYLUM AND MIGHT WELL BE RELUCTANT TO LIMIT THEIR TRADITIONAL FREEDOM TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES IN ANY INDIVIDUAL CASE. 000507 �PAGE SIX 3315 UNCLAS TO SUM UP,I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND WHICH WE ARE DOING.WE ARE TAKING ALL POSSIBLE MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF OVERSEAS.AND WE ARE EXPLORING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES ALL IDEAS THAT COULD HELP TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.BUT WE HAVE TO RECOGNISE THE VERY REAL DIFFICULTIES OF EFFECTIVE INNAL ACT ION.EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT AND EACH CASE INVOLVES A HUMAN LIFE.WE MUST THEREFORE TAKE CARE TO AVOID ANY ACTION THAT IS OF DOUBTFUL VALUE BUT THAT MIGHT TIE OUR HANDS IF A BRIT DIPLOMAT WERE KIDNAPPED. ENDS VS13S/70. RFT 0615!GZ � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDTF00009 Title A name given to the resource London to External 3315 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 6-Oct-70 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Political Affairs - Internal Security - Task Force on Kidnapping - Policy, RG25, vol. 25741, 20-22-TFK-1, part 1, Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Department of External Affairs Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Canadian Crown Subject The topic of the resource October Crisis, TFK Description An account of the resource Kidnapping of Brit Official Excerpt from Statement inHouse of Lords Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Canada Declassified Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource en