MR JA THOMSON
Miss Kyle xew
l + R A
SECRET
ra Crowson. PMI
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JA
DEFENCE REVIEW
1.
But I assume
and
I am not sure exactly where we are on this. that the guide-lines proposed in the draft enclosed with Sir John Hunt's letter of 28 March have now been approved; that, as suggested by the PUS, our reservations on the "politico- military priorities" included in the guide-lines will now be argued out in the DSWP in the first instance.
2.
It seems to me that in following this up there will need to be cross-fertilisation between Defence Department (as the central FCO representative on the DSWP) and the Geographical Departments. The latter will need to know what is the general approach to the review and the broad shape it seems likely to take before they
can consider and advise how best to feed into the inter-departmental discussions their particular points of interest.
3.
My own concern is of course primarily with Hong Kong. I assume that this exercise will necessarily involve a review of our defence arrangements there, and there is of course a considerable political element in this in terms both of confidence within the colony and of relations with China. It is a separate issue from the Five Power Defence arrangements, although decisions taken in the latter context (eg on communications, the Gurkhas etc) could affect the problem in Hong Kong. I think we should bear in mind the need to let the Governor know what is in the wind and bring him into consultation as early as possible. Meantime it is important that speculation about changes in our "East of Suez" posture should not be allowed to affect confidence in the colony.
4.
My other concern is HMG's responsibility for defence and internal security in the dependent territories in the Caribbean, the Pacific and elsewhere. This does not of course loom large in the totality of the Defence Review, but is a commitment that cannot be ignored so long as we remain responsible for these places. The principal item of expenditure is the garrison in Belize; but I am afraid that at the moment there is no early prospect of resolving the dispute in Guatemala.
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SECRET
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