JELALI
C. Oman, The brief for the United States talks should be written on tho basis that our aim would be withdrawal from Oran and Masirah as soon as
conditions pornitted; but that wo could not announce this now sinco this could prejudice our chances of early withdrawal. If the Americans showed concorn about the loss of the intelligence facilities at Masirah we should havo to consider further whether we could retain these without being required to assist in Dhofar.
d. Mauritius and Kenya. We should not aim to ond our consultative cornituento provided Ministers rocognised that wo should in practice have little or no capability to offer physical assistance.
0. ITDA. The brief should be on the basis of withdrawal of all but
Reference back to London would be required for any higher figure.
5 non.
£.
Hong Kong. The MOD would consider further, with CBFHK, the military acceptability of reducing the size of the garrison to a lovel at which the Governor thought he could persuade the Executive Council to contribute 75 per cont of the cost. It would also be necessary to consider further the timing of consultations in the light of the Governor's request to delay these until May 1975,
If noconbury,
5. Gan. Nothing substantive could be said to the Maldivian Prime Minister during his visit to London in October/Novoribor. however, a Ministerinl viuit could bo offorod,
h.
Timing. Mossages offering consultations should be sent to those Governments concerned at the same tino as the Parliamentary Statement was mado.
6.
Action.
It was agreed that the MOD, in consultation with the Transury and the FCO as required, would prepare briefs for consultation with the United Statos on both NATO and non-NATO aspects and would circulate those to the Sub-Committee.
FUTURE WORK
7. It was agreed that the Sub-Committee would noot again at 10.30 on Friday 11 October* to consider the revised tinotable for consultation, the revised Parliamentary Statomont, the position on Hong Kong and the consultation briefs. In addition it would be helpful if monbers of the Sub-Committee could see tho provisional rosults of the MOD exercise on containing the cost of non-NATO Commitments within the cost of the Critical Level.
"
Cabinet Offico
DISTRIBUTION: Those present
4 October 1974
* This meeting will be in Conference Roon B, Cabinet Office.
SECRETS