The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Tag: Kuwait

  • Mr Major’s Comments on the Gulf (III) – 7 January 1991

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments on the Gulf, made in an interview in Riyadh on Monday 7th January 1991.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked whether he would delay the deadline made to Iraq].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    There is no question of extending the deadline, the deadline has been known for a very considerable period of time and it is now five months since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. At this very late stage, to come forward and suggest moving the deadline is clearly just a ploy. If he is concerned then the solution is in his own hands, he can do what he should have done some time ago and get out of Kuwait.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if he thought Saddam Hussein would withdraw at the last moment].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I hope very much that he will withdraw, a peaceful solution to this unhappy affair would be by far the best although of course it will leave residual problems still to be solved. So I very much hope that proves to be the right judgement. But although we must hope for peace we are prepared for war and I must say the visits that I have had to the troops this afternoon have reinforced in my mind not only the state of their morale but the very substantial level of equipment that they have there.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked what had been said in his meeting with General de la Billiere].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    He briefed me very fully on the present state of readiness of the Armed Forces and on the plans at present as he saw them and the difficulties that he saw and we had a lengthy discussion about that and it was a very satisfactory and if I may say so a very impressive briefing indeed. He has a very high quality of staff around him and it was a very impressive occasion.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked what he would tell the troops when he saw them the following day].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I will tell them firstly how proud everybody at home is of their professionalism and the way in which they are conducting themselves here. I think that is undoubtedly the case and I will happily pass that message on to the troops. I will also take the opportunity of talking to them about the principles that are at stake in Kuwait, not of course just the liberal of Kuwait, important though that is, because it is being treated appallingly, but also the wider issues that are at stake, preventing an aggressor marching into a weaker country. It is very important that they do not get away with that for if they do who knows that other small countries may have aggressive neighbours who will take advantage of them. So I will discuss with the troops that and other matters.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if war was inevitable].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No, not inexorably at all. War can be stopped immediately, there is only one thing necessary to stop war and that is for Saddam Hussein to get out of Kuwait, it is in his hands, he can start moving this very evening. He has known what has been required of him for months, he knows what the deadline is, he knows the truly awesome level of power that he will have to face if he does not get out, he can get out, he should get out, and I hope he will do so.

  • Mr Major’s Comments on the Gulf (II) – 7 January 1991

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments on the Gulf, made in an interview in Riyadh on Monday 7th January 1991.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked whether he would delay the deadline made to Iraq].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No, I do not think that is a starter for a second. The deadline has been known for some months, it is five months now since Saddam Hussein marched into Kuwait, the deadline set by the United Nations has been known for a considerable period of time, if he is concerned about the deadline then the solution is in his own hands, he can start moving out of Kuwait tonight.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if there was no way the deadline could be changed].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No, there is no question of shifting the deadline. We have known for some time that he may play games of this sort and try to edge the deadline forward, it is not something that we are prepared to contemplate.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if he felt Saddam Hussein was looking for a way out].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    We very much hope there is going to be a peaceful solution, that clearly is the first prize and it is very much what we wish to see. But that must be in his hands, he knows what he had to do, he can ensure it leads to a peaceful solution, I very much hope that it does.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if he had a view he would share on whether progress would be made].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No, I cannot, I think we must wait and see, there are meetings yet to come later this week in Geneva and we must see what comes out of them.

  • 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 Iraq – 22 December 1990

    The text of Mr Major’s comments on Iraq, made in Washington on Saturday 22nd December 1990.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked whether he had any doubts about the US President’s use of military action in Iraq].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    No, I am in no doubt at all. The President, like everyone else, would prefer the matter to be peacefully settled but indeed, I have no doubt whatsoever about the ultimate commitment to force.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked why sanctions wouldn’t work instead of using force].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    I think you have to consider firstly what is happening day by day in Kuwait. You are seeing the dismantlement of a country that at present is being run rather like a prison camp, so I think that is not an argument for excessive delay. Equally, of course, there are Security Council Resolutions and I think they should be observed.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked why sanctions couldn’t be given longer].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    Sanctions have had a chance to work. I think you should address those questions to Saddam Hussein and invite him to withdraw. It is he who invaded Kuwait; it is he who is dismantling it; it is he who can bring the matter speedily to a peaceful conclusion.

    QUESTION:

    [Mr Major was asked if he was committed to a war if it were necessary].

    PRIME MINISTER:

    We must hope that it proves not to be necessary and I think we must hope that Saddam Hussein will come to his senses and withdraw but there is no doubt that if he does not withdraw voluntarily, then he will have to be made to withdraw involuntarily.