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Part I to COS 16th Meeting/68 12th March 1968
Five Power Talks
SIR CHARLES ELWORTHY said that it now seemed fairly certain that Five Power Talks would be held in early June. The Assistant Under-Secretary (Policy) had prepared a possible
agenda for these talks which the Committee had before them. Earlier in the meeting, they had had some discussion on this subject and the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, had outlined Australian and New Zealand views. However, there might be
some additional points for discussion.
GENERAL CARVER, in referring to the possible agenda, said that the question of involvement of Australia and New Zealand in Malaysia and Singapore after our withdrawal would need to be handled with care. He did not anticipate that much would emerge for use at the Talks from the various Advisory Working Groups which he had set up; rather it was hoped that these groups would isolate and focus attention on problems. The question of our re-interpretation of the Malaysian Defence Agreement could be raised. The possibility of assistance in
maintaining defence facilities after our withdrawal should be considered, with special reference to training requirements. A favourable approach on such items as these could be the best means of influencing the Australians to remain in the area.
In discussion, the following point was made:
V.
Future overseas training requirements would be included in the long-term study on general capability (18).
The Committee:
(8)
Agreed.
Summing up their overall discussion, SIR CHARLES ELWORTHY said that they had had a most useful discussion and they would wish to thank GENERAL CARVER for presenting his rundown plan to them, and for giving them his views on other Far East problems.
The Committee:
(9)
Agreed with the remarks of the Chief of the Defence Staff in his summing up.
Note:
18.
COS 1133/23/2/68, Annex A, Serial 103.
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