SECRET
X
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 51
26 MAR 1974
hu Stught
2.
А
~KK1012
Mr Jackson's submission to Mr Thomson/Sir G Arthur/Private Secretary, dated 15 March 1974:
DEFENCE EXPENDITURE 7
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1. I am sure the Secretary of State should minute to the
Chancellor.
The points at issue are of major importance for
Foreign and Commonwealth affairs.
#1
However I do not think that
at this stage we need argue the details about Singapore or about
'groups" of commitments. To do so, may only lead to counter
arguments. There was, after all, a decision in 1968 and personally
I regard it as inevitable in the present financial climate that the Five Power defence arrangements should be run down very soon. I would prefer for the time being to stick to the main point, which
is that a defence review is in train, it cannot sensibly be treated piecemeal, and damage which is both unnecessary and grave would be caused to our overseas interests by premature announcements.
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