Browse Items (215 total)

Follow up to item 367 (TNA Item 17 pages 132/133): Notice of HMS Berwick's dispatch to SVG, arrival expected 25/11/1971. Marine officer with communications equipment dispatched to SVG, arriving 23/11/1971.

First page: report of 'substantial body of rock above lake surface'; volcanologists had suggested naval assistance may be needed within 12 hours; report of torrential rain which would seriously hamper evacuations due to floods/landslides; at-risk…

First page: summarises elevated activity and need for 24 hour distance naval assistance; refers to local planning for emergency and likely shortages of supplies.
Second page: reports no need for UK based elements at present; discusses benefit of…

Discusses the challenges of relief effort: finance (high cost of commisioning relief flight, £10k of FCO disaster funding in event of disaster only); provision of supplies (frigate vs neighbouring islands; plan).

Handwritten update dated…

Reports impression that relief needs will mostly be met regionally; reports offer of minesweeper and aircraft support from french navy; reports characteristic willingness of neighbouring islands to provide assistance.

Reply to request for more experienced volcanologists (FCO 63/881 item 26/Curating_Crises_#186); finding qualified British scientist might be difficult; money is tight.

Reports offer of naval assistance from Dutch Navy station in Curacao.

Barltrop agrees with offer of Dutch assistance.

Discussion of naval support from Royal Navy and Dutch Navy

First page: discussion of Dutch Navy offer of assistance and capabilities; other offers of assistance from US Ambassador, French and Trinidad Forces; report of no change to voclanic activity but that situation could change at any time.
Second page:…