(Reuters)
Michael Holden, William James July 8, 2019
LONDON - Britain said on Monday it had contacted Washington to express regret for the leak of confidential memos in which its ambassador described U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration as “dysfunctional” and “inept”.
The memos from Kim Darroch, ambassador to Washington, were divulged to a Sunday newspaper, annoying Trump and embarrassing London.
“Contact has been made with the Trump administration, setting out our view that we believe the leak is unacceptable,” Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman told reporters. “It is, of course, a matter of regret that this has happened.”
Trade minister Liam Fox, who is visiting Washington, told BBC radio he would apologize to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, whom he is due to meet.
“I will be apologizing for the fact that either our civil service or elements of our political class have not lived up to the expectations that either we have or the United States has about their behavior, which in this particular case has lapsed in a most extraordinary and unacceptable way,” he said.
“Malicious leaks of this nature ... can actually lead to a damage to that relationship, which can therefore affect our wider security interest.”
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