ABSTRACT
The turn that events were now taking meant that the Patrol needed instructions on what was to be done if an illegal immigrant vessel used firearms to resist arrest. Whilst the CinC Mediterranean Fleet held that the more the show of force and determination, the less the risk there would be of such a very undesirable development, he authorised opening fire if necessary to suppress opposition of that kind. But he added that response was to be proportionate and no more than absolutely necessary to overcome opposition.
