Pages 37-38 from FCO 96959 - Nuclear power matters in Pakistan 1978

This document is a letter dated September 1, 1979, from Lord Trenchard, the Minister of State at the Department of Industry, to Douglas Hurd, the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Lord Trenchard is responding to Hurd's letter regarding the control of nuclear exports to Pakistan.

Lord Trenchard expresses his understanding of the concerns raised about controlling Pakistan's access to goods required for its uranium enrichment program. However, he shares the concerns expressed by Cecil Parkinson, and mentions that effective action through export controls requires international cooperation, which has been inconsistent thus far. He states that they would not want to disadvantage their industry by imposing restraints that are not imposed on their competitors, especially when the items in question are not specifically related to centrifuge enrichment facilities.

Lord Trenchard suggests that controls could be extended to certain items mentioned in Cecil Parkinson's letter and even to spin-forming and flow-forming machines for all destinations, considering the importance of restraining Pakistan. However, for other items used generally in industry, they would not consider imposing controls until they are certain that other suppliers are doing the same and they have consulted with the industry about the potential impact of such measures.

Lord Trenchard also mentions the Department of Trade's procedures for dealing with cases where goods under export control are already in question. He highlights the difficulty of dissuading firms from supplying certain goods to Pakistan when they are not already under export control, stating that it is not appropriate for the Department of Industry's relations with the industry.

Overall, Lord Trenchard expresses reservations about implementing extensive controls on nuclear exports to Pakistan without international cooperation and adequate consideration of the industry's interests.