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NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
SEORET
natimal
we should provide, and tailor our defence structure
to ensure their provision in the most cost-effective
way.
4.
A further conclusion is that our commit ents to
MATO should havethe clear priority overall our other
commitments on political and rilitery grounds.
giving up
We
see no particular virtue in standing world-wide
commitments, but the fact is that on our politico-
economic analysis, commitments outside the NATO srce
are less crucial to our and the general western
interest.
This does not mean that we should abandon
them root end branch - and we do not propose to do so.
← and I shall have chine to say about this lates Where withdrawal is envisaged w we shell wish to
discuss the details of the timing and extent of our
changes with the relevant agencies in washington. But it makes sense to explain at the outset that
our overall approach is to concentrate on doing the most important things well, rather then trying to maintain a carobility of an inevitably lover molity
across the board, and that this means that our in
priority is for the Alliance.
5. It may be apropriate also to explain et the
outset that we have deliberately chosen not to attempt
workout
tw
to draft detailed proposals chat: the Defence Review's effects on all the individuel components of our
defence forces. The reriod which we have covered
is a decade. We have renched preliminary brood:
conclusions about what we regard as the right side', and shape of the British Armed Forces through, and
after that period. Iinisters have taken a firm
} decision to make available resources sufficient to
But since our in is cost-
fund these forces.
#
BECRIV
/effective