Part I to Cos 25th Meeting/70
4 August 1970
6.
f. It was agreed that the Director of Defence Operational Plans in conjunction with the Navy and Army Departments should study alternative ways of meeting the commitment by drawing on other deployments abroad, in particular those in the Far East.
8. It was agreed that a signal should be sent to SACEUR advising him of the situation, including the likely date of the return of 1 GREEN HOWARDS.
Summing up, SIR CHARLES ELWORTHY said that they would agree that a Royal Marine Commando should be retained in Northern Ireland until 27 September and that a decision would be needed by the end of August ca participation in Exercise DEEP EXPRESS. They would instruct the Director of Defence Operational Plans to undertake a study in conjunction with the Navy Department, the Army Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to examine and report on possible alternative world-wide deployments, to meet the Northern Ireland commitment. They would farther instruct the Director of Defence Operational Plans to emphasise, in the paper (2) which was being prepared, the importance of reaching long term solutions to the Northern Ireland security problem, and they would wish to consider further what representation they should make to the Secretary of State. Finally, they would instruct the Secretary to draft a signal informing SACEUR of the position.
7.
The Committee:
Agreed with the remarks of the Chief of the Defence Staff in his summing up.
Note:
2.
DOP 524/70 (Final).
SECRET UK EYES ONLY