10.3  |  Reconstruction: oil, commercial interests, debt relief, asylum and stabilisation policy

demanding a “fair share”. Mr Henderson commented that it remained to be seen whether

the visits would make a difference:

“… my impression is that despite the insistence of the technocrats that the process

was not subject to political influence or interference, it will be more difficult now for

the collective US machinery involved to produce a result that did not give the UK

companies a significant share of the action.”

719.  Mr Henderson wrote to Sir Stephen Brown on 23 February, reporting that

Mr O’Brien was “deeply unhappy” that Mr Wilson’s programme had included a number

of political calls, which breached the guidelines (as Mr O’Brien understood them) that

Mr O’Brien should concentrate on official contacts and Mr Wilson on the private sector.423

Copies of the minute were sent to UKTI officials only.

720.  Mr Henderson concluded:

“… it is clear that the arrangement is not working … We run the risk of spending

more time on this than on the core task of helping UK companies to win business.”

721.  Mr Henderson also reported that the British Embassy had been “furious” at the

activities of a public relations company contracted by AMEC, which had sought to

organise Mr Wilson’s visit.

722.  Sir David Manning, the British Ambassador in Washington, wrote to Sir Michael

Jay on 3 March, detailing the Embassy’s concerns.424 He highlighted two issues, both

of which had caused significant problems for the Embassy:

• the lack of clarity regarding the roles of Mr O’Brien and Mr Wilson, and the lack

of communication between their offices; and

• the relationship between Mr Wilson and AMEC, which appeared uncomfortably

close, with a significant risk of serious embarrassment to the UK.

723.  Sir David concluded that the roles of Mr Wilson and Mr O’Brien needed to be

clearly defined, and the potential for a conflict of interest arising from Mr Wilson’s links

to AMEC resolved.

724.  ISOG discussed the opportunities for UK companies on 24 February.425 Sir Nigel

Sheinwald confirmed that Mr Blair was prepared to write or speak to President Bush on

the issue.

423 Email Henderson to Brown, 23 February 2004, ‘Wilson and O’Brien Visits to Washington

18-20 February’.

424 Letter Manning to Jay, 3 March 2004, [untitled].

425 Letter Owen to Cannon, 25 February 2004, ‘Iraq Reconstruction Contracts’.

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