SECRET
UK EYES ONLY
23.
DOP Note 706/70 (Draft)
Continued)
The Chiefs of Staff have agreed (5) that whilst it remains a
possible option to leave Malta temporarily without any garrison,
"they would be faced with the likelihood of a major administrative
muddle if 1 D and D did not relieve 3 Para in time for the handover of the barracks and the return of families etc." Furthermore 1 D and D have been told they will not be kept in Northern Ireland after 10 September.
24. Since the original date set for the return of this unit has al- ready had to be changed more than once it is most important from a morale point of view not to break faith on this latest promise.
We therefore consider it highly desirable that 1 D and D should be
returned to Malta by 10 September 1970.
Cyprus
The
25. There are two infantry battalions in Cyprus; one is in
UNFICYP and the other is in the Cyprus Garrison with the role of
defending the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAS) and Retained Sites.
UNFICYP battalion is firmly committed under the United Nations
mandate which runs until December 1970. The question of our
contribution after this date will be reviewed.
Although there
have been no major intercommunal disputes in Cyprus in recent
years a volatile situation does exist and it is considered
operationally unacceptable to remove the only battalion from the
Cyprus Garrison and so leave the SBAS, Retained Sites and families
virtually defenceless.
Gulf
26. Of the two infantry battalions in the Gulf one is at Bahrein
and one at Sharjah. Until recently it was planned to withdraw one
of these battalions as part of the Gulf rundown, but HMG has
decided that in order to afford time to resolve disputes, allow the
creation of the Union of Arab Emirates and establish a situation
Note:
5. COS 25th Meeting/70, Item 4
7-
SECRET
UK EYES ONLY