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In
including the necessary target dates, would be needed not only to ensure proper planning within Whitehall as a whole, but also to ensure that the necessary defence plans and arrangements can be made. particular, it is necessary not only to plan for many years ahead on the roles, tasks and equipment of the forces, but also for their
If there is to be a organisation, deployment and accommodation. major change in the Far East this would affect large number of Servic e- their families and local employees. It is essential that an adequate time-scale be set now if adequate preparation is to be made not only for the military consequences but also for the major executi ve decisions and actions that will affect large numbers of people.
men
Negotiating Position
43. We cannot advise on how the negotiations with our allies should be conducted until Ministers have given directions on our objectives.
Two different kinds of discussions are involved: on the one hand consultations with our American, Australian and New Zealand allies, and on the other negotiations, relating to our treaty obligations and to the economic effects which our proposals will have, with Singapore and Malaysia. A slightly different approach will be needed to our
other allies in SEATO. All these countries will be concerned with
the size of the forces we shall be proposing, and Singapore (and to a lesser extent Malaysia) will be concerned with the effect on local employment of the revised force levels and the rate of reduction. We shall be pressed hard to give information on our force levels and we shall have to go beyond a general statement of an intention to make reductions. We will put forward proposals for the conduct of negotiations in the light of Ministers' directions as to the objectives.
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