The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: 1991

  • Mr Major’s Statement in Riyadh – 7 January 1991

    Below is Mr Major’s statement made after meeting the Emir and Crown Prince of Kuwait. The statement was made in Riyadh on 7th January 1991.

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Perhaps I might just say very briefly that I have just had a very worthwhile meeting both with the Emir and then separately with the Crown Prince. One of the things that strikes you very forcibly in those discussions is that you are actually talking to people whose country has been invaded and is effectively for the time being a massive prison camp and in which atrocities are being committed daily by the Iraqis. That was very evident and the depth of emotion and feeling that there is about this matter I think was equally evident.

    I was able to make absolutely clear to the Emir the full-hearted support that we have for the Security Council Resolutions and the determination that we and the Allies have that Saddam Hussein must leave Kuwait either voluntarily or be expelled forcibly.

    I made it equally clear in the discussions we had that a partial withdrawal would not be satisfactory and that it had to be a full withdrawal and that there would be no negotiations and nothing to be gained by Saddam Hussein if he attempted to negotiate for there was nothing to be had. We had a lengthy discussion about these matters and I think a very worthwhile one.

    I was also able to express to the Emir my admiration for the way in which the people of Kuwait have acted during the period of this occupation and my hope and belief that they would be free again as soon as possible.

    We also spent some time talking about the problems that will occur both in the region and in Kuwait at the conclusion of this matter – whether it is concluded peaceably or not – and we spent some time talking about the necessary reconstruction that there will then have to be in Kuwait and the way in which the United Kingdom would be happy to assist in that.

    It was, I think, therefore an extremely worthwhile and useful meeting. I hope it was equally useful to the Emir and the Crown Prince, and they assured me that it was, and I am delighted to have had this opportunity of talking to them today. No doubt, we will have the opportunity, either directly or through our ambassador, for further discussions in the weeks ahead but it was a very sound and worthwhile meeting that we had today and I am pleased I was able to have it.

    Thank you very much indeed!

  • Mr Major’s Comments on the Gulf – 6 January 1991

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments on the Gulf, made in an interview on a VC10 to the Gulf on 6th January 1991.

    QUESTION:
    [Mr Major was asked why he was going to the Gulf].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    There are several reasons why I particularly want to go.

    Firstly, I want, of course, to discuss with all our Arab allies how they see the present events and what may happen of course after this matter is over for there will be a great deal to be done then.

    I want to see our own troops and our own British personnel who are there; I want to satisfy myself that they have the equipment that they need, that they are in good heart and good morale and I want to take the opportunity of explaining to them why they are there and how important is is we think that they are there to put right the dreadful wrong that thus far has been done to Kuwait.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked what he thought would happen in the following weeks].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I do not think anyone can be certain what is going to happen. Clearly, we would like this matter to be resolved without a conflict. We would like Saddam Hussein to withdraw from Kuwait and go back to Iraq. We have made it absolutely clear to him that if he does that, he will not be attacked within Iraq – that is absolutely clear and I hope he fully understands that – but whether or not there is a conflict is now up to him. We hope there will not be, but if he does not withdraw, then I fear there will be.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked that since the UN deadline was approaching, would war be inevitable].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I think it was always likely that it would be at the very end of this time-scale before Saddam Hussein withdraws if indeed he does, so I certainly do not give up hope of him withdrawing and I hope very much he will see reason and will do so.

    He cannot win a conflict; that must be clear to him. The sheer scale of the Allied forces there and the Allied air power means that he cannot win, that must be clear to him and I hope he will withdraw. He still has some time to do so. I hope he will make use of that time and withdraw speedily.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if there would be a problem about whether the Allied troops would ready for war].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No. I am informed that the Allies are very well prepared for war if that should prove to be necessary; I will have the opportunity of seeing that for myself over the next few days.

  • Mr Major’s Comments on Becoming Prime Minister – 6 January 1991

    The text of Mr Major’s comments on becoming Prime Minister, made in an interview on 6th January 1991.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked when he heard that Margaret Thatcher was resigning].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I heard it very late on the evening before she told Cabinet the next day, and as you know I was at home recovering from a wisdom tooth operation and I was telephoned and told late in the evening.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if he shed a tear when she resigned].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I was very sorry, yes, I mean she has had a remarkable record. I think there’s no doubt whatsoever that when historians come to write the history of the last 10 or 11 years she is a dominating figure. And if you look back through the span of years from the turn of the century there are two or three figures who have actually dominated British politics at one time or another and Margaret Thatcher is amongst those, so it was a very sad day, I think, yes.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if all the back seat driver talk was untrue].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    It was also out of context.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked whether he had consulted Margaret Thatcher and whether he would listen to her advice].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    We always had a very good relationship when she was Prime Minister as indeed did most of her members of her government with her. I think that is the case and I see no reason for that friendly relationship not to continue in the future, yes. She is a repository of great experience and from time to time I would be very silly if I didn’t, if I didn’t tap into that.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if he had asked her advice yet].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I’ve spoken to her, I’ve spoken to her on a number of occasions, I don’t know that I’ve consulted her in terms that you mean, certainly not. But we’ve certainly spoken on a number of occasions, yes.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if she could have won on a second ballot in the leadership election].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I don’t know, she’s a very remarkable politician. I certainly wouldn’t have ruled it out.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if he instinctively knew he wouldn’t her second Margaret Thatcher’s nomination in the second round].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No, I didn’t instinctively make up my mind about that. The final decision to do that wasn’t really taken until the following morning around 11am, one hour before nominations closed. There was no decision as to whether I would stand until that time. And it wasn’t until one hour before the nominations closed that I actually had a nominator and a seconder. So the decision was taken at a very late stage. I of course was Mrs Thatcher’s seconder and I expected to second her and to support her and to try and encourage colleagues to vote for her on the second ballot and I would have done that with a will.