"Prime Minister, you handled it brilliantly!
You forced him to resign on an obscure administrative issue of your choosing, rather than on a policy issue of his choosing.
Nobody will support him because nobody will really understand why he's gone.
A masterstroke!"
Sir Humphrey Appleby,
Man Overboard
9th November 1983
Indian Defence Minister meets Margaret Thatcher in Number 10 Downing Street.
“The Prime Minister expressed her pleasure at the high degree of co-operation between the UK and India on military matters”
22nd November 1983
Captain Ramsdale, pilot is sent to Yeovil before going to India in order to “familiarize himself with the helicopter and the state of project negotiaions”
Late November
Margaret Thatcher meets Indira Gandhi in Delhi at the Commonwealth Heads of State meeting.
30th November
Downing Street to FCO
“One matter which arose during the Prime Minister’s visit to India for CHOGM was the prospect of Westland winning a contract worth over £50 million for 27 of their new W 30 helicopters, of which, I understand, 21 would be for the oil and Natural Gas Commission for servicing off-shore rigs and six for the Indian Air Force. I believe that we are unlikely to win the contract unless we offer substantial aid.
Report requested for the PM by 6th December.
December
Document requested by 6th December appears to be missing.
3rd February 1984
Missing document from the Foreign Secretary about the removal of “dissident Sikhs from the Golden Temple”.
6th February
Downing Street to FCO
“Thank you for your letter of 3 February about the Indian request for advice on plans for the removal of dissident Sikhs from the Golden Temple. The Prime Minister is content the Foreign Secretary should procedd as he proposes. She will look forward to receiving a report on the adviser’s visit”Adviser’s report missing.
14th February
Confidential note to the PM from PL Gregson at the Cabinet Office.
“The government of India seeks to use £50 million from the bilateral aid programme to buy 21 Westland W30 helicopters”
Minister of Overseas Development is “sceptical of the commercial case”
“The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Mr Pattie) may have views on the links with sales of military helicopters”
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