UK EYES ONLY
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Part I to COS 16th Meeting/68 12th March 1968
Do
Brunei
SIR CHARLES ELWORTHY said they would have seen the minute From the Commonwealth Secretary to the Prime Minister (13) setting out his views on the termination of the Anglo/Brunei agreement, which included a recommendation that a Gurkha battalion be retained in Brunei until a date between July and November 1970. There had been no reply as yet from the Prime Minister.
GENERAL CARVER said that the recommendations in the Commonwealth Secretary's minute (13) suited his rundown plan in that the retention of the Gurkha battalion in Brunei would enable it eventually to move direct to barracks in Hong Kong, thus avoiding temporary accommodation in Malaysia. It should be noted that a decision on this was required in time to renew the lease for Seria Camp in Brunci.
In discussion, the point was made that the Secretary of State had written to the Prime Minister (14) agreeing with the recommendations by the Commonwealth Secretary (13).
Summing up, SIR CHARLES ELWORTHY said that they would await the reply from the Prime Minister before they considered any further action.
The Committee:
(5) Took note.
Notes:
13.
9/1/1B dated 8th March 1968. 14. MO 9/1/1B dated 11th March 1968.
10 SECRET
UK EYES ONLY