Downing Street was yesterday warned by US officials that leaked diplomatic messages will soon come to light, revealing American diplomats’ candid private assessments of British politics.
The telegrams and cable messages from the US embassy in London are among thousands of secret documents handed to the Wikileaks website, which is set to publish them within days.
The imminent leak has sparked warnings that America’s relations with its international allies could be badly strained.
Trying to limit the damage, US diplomats yesterday briefed friendly governments on the likely content of the leaked documents.
Sources revealed that the documents include commentary on the likely fate of the Coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.
Transmitted in the early days of the Coalition, the messages are understood to predict that the Government was likely to prove ineffective and short-lived, ultimately doomed by tensions between Tories and Lib Dems.
Earlier messages about the previous Government could prove at least as embarrassing for Mr Brown
It is understood that that the embassy’s political staff told the State Department in Washington that the then prime minister was regarded as volatile and unpredictable, and politically weak.
“There are one or two things in there that could be mildly embarrassing for the Coalition,” said one source. “The previous government will also find it uncomfortable reading.”
As well as political commentary, US officials fear that the leaked papers could reveal details of intelligence-sharing arrangements, counter-terrorism operations and other highly sensitive aspects of American foreign policy.
As part of preparations for a “worst-case scenario”, US diplomats have privately briefed governments in countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel and Turkey about the likely revelations. Australian and Canadian officials have also been briefed.
PJ Crowley, a spokesman for the US State Department in Washington, criticised the imminent release.
“These revelations are harmful to the US and our interests. They are going to create tension in relationships between our diplomats and our friends around the world.”
The diplomatic texts would be the third set of confidential US government documents unveiled by Wikileaks this year.
Earlier publications have revealed sensitive details of Western military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and led the allegations that the website was jeopardising the security of some Afghan government officials.
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that the UK had passed on details of the telegrams.
The spokesman said: “Obviously, the Government has been briefed by US officials, by the US ambassador, as to the likely content of these leaks.
“'I don't want to speculate about precisely what is going to be leaked before it is leaked.”
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