Distribution:-
Coples to:-
(16939) Dd.897300 200m 9/72 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863 (17785) Dd.897533 400m 5/73 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
CONFIDENTIAL
File No.
GIB AND GEN
OUTWARD
Department Drafted by
TELEGRAM
(Block Capitals)
J S CHAMPION
MA 68
el. Extn.
DESKBY
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Security Classification CONFIDENTIAL
Precedence
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(Caveat/
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Privacy Marking)
PERSONAL
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[TEXT]
XY 42
Z
My telegram no.
: DEFENCE REVIEW
1. Gibraltar is not mentioned specifically in the ministerial statement to be made on 3 December, although the latter emphasises our intention to contract our world- wide role, to concentrate on NATO, and to discard some of
our non-NATO commitments.
2.
The Review itself concludes that Gibraltar is no longer of any great military importance to us, although it has some value for NATO, but that if our current policy of sustaining it is to continue, a garrison and support of the dockyard will be necessary so long as there is no change in the attitudes of Spain and the Gibraltarians. The economies proposed in Gibraltar amount, therefore, to no more than a
small reduction in the numerical strength of the garrison,
with an estimated saving of £lm on the present recurrent defence cost of £14m pa.
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