SECRET
Reference...
Mr. Carter
c.c. General McNeill
Mr. Fairclough
I was at a meeting in the Ministry of Defence yesterday at which a team who had been discussing the future of the Commonwealth Brigade in Singapore with Australian and New Zealand representatives reported. In the course of the discussions the team mentioned that the effect of the Aden Plan by which
the bulk of the commando force will be sent to that
are a from October this year to July next year would make it extremely difficult to discharge national commitments in the Far East, especially in Fiji. There would be no European infantry battalion available except for that in the Commonwealth Brigade. It would be possible to use this battalion by substituting for it in the Brigade a Gurkha battalion,
but even so, this would leave Far East Command short of two battalions for any operations in Fiji. No difficulty was seen, however, in meeting any planned contingency commitment to Mauritius.
2.
I don't know if you are aware of this, but if not you may wish, if you think it desirable, to
pursue the matter with the Ministry of Defence. The information was conveyed at a meeting of the Directors of Defence Planning yesterday morning.
Gen. Carver's proposal is at
(36A/4
1-SEG paragraph 22.d.
and acceptance at paragraph. 6. of (37).
Miss Jacey, Special Care Regy
I think this is chalt
with on one
R. Stainton
17/%
Mr. Gammiara
concerned
If your
of this
pher! If not, for.
pars to M. Bailey
ん
R. sid.
16.8.67
in
(A.H. Reed)
10 August, 1967.
бы зам Jar
an
Hong Kong
S
think
care has been taken
proposal
bath
Gen, Carver's to (accepted?
by Chiefs of Staff)
staff, that
that reinforcements
of 2 battalion's plus necessary
additional
He staff shared be provided from the на
U.K.
Luaned you flease check this?
SECRET
Luse
TS78
P.T.O