W(B)L 51-7433
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CONFIDENTIAL
Registry No.
DRAFT
KETTKK BRIEF
Type 1 +
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
To:-
From
Top Secret.
Secretary of State
Secret.
Confidential,
Restricted. Unclassified.
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56
Telephone No. & Ext,
Department
AIRCRAFT CARRIER PROGRAMME
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It has been agreed that the next meeting of
the Defence and Oversea Policy Committee on
28 February will discuss the exchange of
minutes between the Defence Secretary (dated,
13 and 23 February), the Chancellor (21
February) and the Foreign Secretary (21 Feb)
about whether or not to complete the Ark Royal
refit and re-equip her with Phantom aircraft.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Secretary of
State should give support to the Defence and
Foreign Secretaries, using the talking points.
below.
Talking Points
I believe this is a case in which we should
be guided by professional military advice.
Phantom equipped carriers were judged to be
essential when our East of suez withdrawals were
to take place in the mid-1970s. Our with-
not less, drawals are almost certain to be more difficult
now that we have decided to advance this date.
Ark Royal's service on station will not be long,
Lit will but as the Defence Secretary has pointed out, Z
coincide with the period of greatest potential
danger. I do not believe that we should risk
tim being without her.
2.
If the withdrawals were to go badly as a
/result
CONFIDENTIAL
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