SECRET
COUNTRY
Hong Kong
Australia
COMMITMENT
Hong Kong
New Zealand ) Five-power defence arrangement
Malaysia
>
Singapore >
Iran
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Turkey
Greece
CENTO, Oman and the Gulf
Oman and the Gulf
CENTO
CENTO and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus
There would also need to be consultation with our NATO allies in any event and especially if withdrawal from Gibraltar and/or Malta were
contemplated.
110. On the other hand, it would be better not to consult with the governments of dependent territories (except Hong Kong). In the long run, it would be less harmful to British interests to present them with faits accomplis where necessary. The same also applies to the governments of the associated states.
LINE TO TAKE
111. So long as no decisions have been taken, there will be increasing speculation about the outcome of the Defence Review, both by the press and by governments. Except in the case of those countries listed in paras 106 and 107, HM Representatives should not encourage enquiries. But if asked whether the Review will include any particular commitment in its scope, they should in general confine themselves to saying that the Review is covering all Britain's defence expenditure and commit- ments, and that it would be wrong to try to predict the outcome. HM Representatives should be particularly careful to avoid saying anything which might be interpreted as an assurance that any particular commitment will not be cut, or is unlikely to be cut, unless they are specifically instructed to do so.
112. A similar line to that set out in para 109 should be taken by government spokesmen in response to press enquiries.
113. However, there are certain cases in which, if it were possible to give early assurances that commitments will not be cut, this would be
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/politically