before the end of November or early December.
(The present
position is that the Senate and the House of Representatives
have agreed on a reduced estimate for 1975 expenditure on
Diego Garcia of approximately $18 million and the Administration
are working to clear up the remaining Congressional procedural
obstacles.)
9.
However, we shall undoubtedly be pressed during the
Defence Review consultations to make our intentions about
Diego Garcia clear and in the context of our withdrawals
elsewhere in the area it is important that we should do so.
The form and content of any announcement will need to be jointly
agreed. We would seek American co-operation in linking it
to a statement on arms limitation in the Indian Ocean area,
though we cannot assume this would be forthcoming.
SECRET