:
Mr Stuart, HK10D Mr Hickman, SWPD Mr Wright, MED Mr Goodison, SEED Mr Thomas, SWED
Mr Carless, LAD
Mr Cox, WIAD
Mr Preston, Caribbean Dept.
Mr Chalmers, SAD
Mr Ewans, EAD
Mr Squire, SEAD
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cc Mr Thomson
Mr McLaren, WODY
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spokes Mr Jackson would do a
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brief it required
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DEFENCE REVIEW:
CONSULTATIONS WITH THE AMERICANS
Ret
1. DOP has now approved a draft paper to go to the Cabinet. I attach, as appropriate, extracts from the draft affecting the areas for which you are responsible.
2. There is a meeting at 3pm this afternoon of the Sub Commitee of the Permanent Under-Secretaries Steering Committee to discuss what further action is required in preparation for consultation with the Americans. You have already kindly commented on the detailed Steering Briefs which the MOD have produced to supplement the short passages in the main Steering Brief, which was also approved by UPD on 23 October. With one or two small exceptions, about which Mr Westbrook or I will be consulting you during the course of the morning, these briefs are now all right as far as they go. Mr Thomson has pointed out however that the genesis of these is rather obvious and has suggested that the section in each brief on "line to take" needs amending and expanding to take greater account of the political considerations in each case and the tactics and form of presentation which are consequently desirable. It occurs to us that the best way of achieving this would be for Mr Thomson to suggest at the Sub Committee that the briefs should be supplemented in each case by speaking notes which we in the FCO would prepare. This means in effect that the geographical departments would have to prepare them.
Given that the consultations with the Americans are expected to start on 11 November, the speaking notes would require inter-departmental agreement by 7 November, and we should need
a first draft for circulation to other government departments by the end of next week.
3. I should be grateful to know urgently if you see any objections to our proposing this line at the Sub Committee. Assuming that you do not, I should also be grateful to know by lunchtime of any major points about presentation which you think need to be made in addition to the points made in the briefs as they stand at present.
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