CONFIDENTIAL
5. We have also reviewed our commitments outside NATO case by
case. We shall, of course, maintain our obligations towards our
remaining dependent territories. Elsewhere we have concluded that
substantial reductions are possible in our forces and defence
facilities overseas. These were difficult decisions to make, and
we know th t some of them will disappoint our allies, including
many Commonwealth countries who we know value our military
presence in their regions.
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6. In working out the implications of these principles in
teras of force levels and the effects on the three Services,
priority has been given to maintaining as far as possible the level
and quality of our frontline forces, and to restructing and
reducing the support area to match the new size and shape of the
frontline. In the interests of efficiency, and equally of the
well-being and the morale of the forces themselves, the changa
wo propose will be made liberately and progressively ov.r a
period of years, so that the necessary menpower adjustments, both
Service anl civilian, may be ma with the maximum of veduriano!
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For those who are made redundant fe terms will be offered.
Similarly the changes in our equipment Programme will be med no
smoothly as possible and with the maximum notice to enable
industry to adjust its plens.
7. The Government is sr tisfied, after careful and considered
study, that these general principles which have been decenter
to the review throughout its course, and the Govenment'
derived from them, are based on sound militery criteria;
undermine the strategy, security or cohesion of the M10 Alli :
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