§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department received any direct warning from Iraq that the British registered vessel, the Burmah Endeavour, was liable to attack in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorNo. A report in a French newspaper about four British registered ships, including the Burmah Endeavour, operating in the Iranian advice zone as ferries and storage vessels for Iranian oil was drawn to the attention of officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 10 May by the Iraqi ambassador. It was also raised with the British ambassador in Baghdad on 12 May.
The Iraqi approaches did not constitute a warning of imminent attack. Nor did we have any indication from other sources of such an attack.
The MOD and the Department of Transport were informed of the Iraqi approaches. They in turn, contacted the General Council of British Shipping, the established channel of communication in such circumstances, and through it the owners of the vessels concerned.