CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 340
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CONFIDENTIAL
TO MANILA
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26 SEPTENDER 1968 (SEAD)
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO MANILA TELEGRAM NUMBER 340 OF 26 SEPTEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO POLAD SINGAPORE KUALA LUMPUR H C SINGAPORE DJAKARTA BANGKOK WASHINGTON WELLINGTON AND CANBERRA,
(ख)
YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 245, PARAGRAPH 3. RAF FLIGHTS.
THE FOLLOWING BACKGROUND MAY BE USEFUL IN FURTHER DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE FILIPINOS.
OUGH 2. WE DO NOT HAVE COMPLETE RECORDS OF ALL STAGING FLIGHTS THROUG CLARK, BUT NO DOUBT POLAD CAN OBTAIN THESE FROM F E A F. BUT IN ADDITION TO AD HOC ARRANGEMENTS THAT MAY BE MADE FROM TIME TO TIME, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY THREE HUNTER AND TWO CANBERRA FLICHTS EACH WAY PER ANNUM. EACH FLIGHT HAS FROM FOUR TO EIGHT AIRCRAFT AND IS OCCASIONALLY ACCOMPANIED BY A HERCULES TO PROVIDE TURN-ROUND
FACILITIES.
3. HUNTERS CANNOT FLY DIRECT FROM HONG KONG TO LABUAN, THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE STAGING POINT IS SAICON, TO WHICH THERE ARE BOTH POLIT- ICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OBJECTIONS. YOU WILL BE AWARE OF THE POLIT- ICAL OBJECTIONS TO RAF STRIKE AIRCRAFT LANDING IN SAIGON: THE PRACTICAL OBJECTIONS ARE THAT THE MUNTERS ARE PUT TO CONSIDERABLE RISK IN THE HONG KONG-SAIGON LEG IN THE EVENT OF BAD WEATHER, SINCE THEY MIGHT HAVE INSUFFICIENT FUEL TO DIVERT OR RETURN, IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, CONTINUED AVAILABILITY AND USE OF CLARK IS ESSENTIAL. L IF IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE YOU MAY ALSO REMIND THE FILIPINOS THAT AS ALLIES IN SEA TO IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR PLANNING AND PRACTICAL PURPOSES THAT WE SHOULD MAKE USE OF EACH OTHER'S FACILITIES. 5. UNLESS YOU CONSIDER OTHERWISE, WE THINK THAT CLEARANCES
+
FOR THE NEXT HUNTER FLIGHT THROUGH CLARK (POLAD TELEGRAM NUMBER 495)..
SHOULD BE SOUGHT IN THE NORMAL WAY ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT BE ADVISABLE TO DO THIS TWO OR THREE DAYS EARLIER THAN USUAL.
SOSFA
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
.0. S.E.A.D.
DEFENCE DEPT.
.U.S.D.
C.OF.E. AND P.D.
DEFENCE DEPT.
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CONFIDENTIAL