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SECRET UK EYES ONLY
ANNEX A TO
DOP 535/70 (Draft) (Continued
5. CINCFE has also commented on 2 political aspects connected with
accelerating the rundown. The first relates to advancing the
rundown of some 400 of the 12,000 LEC, but he anticipates no great
difficulty over this point. The second refers to the timing of consultations with the Singapore and Malaysian Governments about the
possibility of accelerating the rundown. He considers that they must
be informed by Jan 71, at the latest, if units are to start
withdrawing in Apr 71.
OUR VIEWS
6.
We agree in principle with CINCFE's recommendation that the
rundown of the Far East land forces should be accelerated for the
reasons he has stated. In addition, the earlier withdrawal of
some units, personnel and families would ease the movement problem
at a peak period in Aug 71. However, there are a number of
We discuss problems in implementing CINCFE's proposals in full.
these below, give a compromise solution, and finally comment on
certain political aspects. We have made the following assumptions:
The continued military presence in SE Asia will not
B..
differ significantly from that recommended in a previous
study (6).
b. A covering force as planned (7) will be required for
the Gulf withdrawal which is due to be completed by 31 Dec 71.
Incoming Land Force
7.
CINCFE has proposed that the incoming land force should replace
the outgoing land force without a gap in Aug/Sep 71. However, the infantry battalion nominated as the land element of the continued UK
Notes:
6.
7.
COS 67/70
5021/1/CBFG dated 30 June 1970
SECRET AUK EYES ONLY