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BEEN OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ALTERNATIVE OPTION OF 5 PATROL
CRAFT ONLY WOULD BE KEPT OPEN UNTIL WE COULD SEE THE FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS OF THE AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE. IN VIEW OF THE TERMS
OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 593, PARA 1, PLEASE CONFIRM THAT OUR UNDER- STANDING IS STILL CORRECT.
5. ARTILLERY. AS PART OF THE RUN-DOWN TO THE ''PREFERRED GARRISON'' IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT THE ARTILLERY REGIMENT WILL BE REDUCED TO A SMALL ELEMENT FOR TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY. YOUR DECISION INVOLVES THE REMOVAL OF THIS ELEMENT ALSO. I DO NOT WISH TO CONTEST THIS, AND THE UNIT IS OF NO CONSEQUENCE FOR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, ON THE OTHER HAND I UNDERSTAND C.B.F. HAS BEEN DEBARRED FROM INFORMING THE UNIT OF THE NEW SITUATION
BECAUSE IN THEORY FORCE LEVELS REMAIN TO BE SETTLED IN THE FORTHCOMING NEGOTIATION, I SUGGEST THAT IN THIS INSTANCE THIS RULING IS NOT REALISTIC AND THE INCONVENIENCE CAUSED TO THE REGIMENT UNNECESSARY. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THESE ORDERS COULD BE CANCELLED IMMEDIATELY.
6. CAPITAL WORKS. A GOOD MANY OF THE PROJECTS ALREADY IN THE
PIPELINE WILL BE REQUIRED REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE
GARRISON AND FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM UNDER THE CURRENT
AGREEMENT. ON THE OTHER HAND I AM INFORMED THAT THE FORCES
ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE GO-AHEAD FROM THE
TREASURY ON, E.G. THE PARTIAL REBUILDING OF THE GURKHA TRAINING CENTRE, ON THE GROUNDS THAT FINAL AGREEMENT ON FORCE LEVELS IS
STILL TO BE NEGOTIATED, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF URGENT ACTION
COULD BE TAKEN TO STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT, AND PROVIDE THOSE ON
THE SPOT WITH REASONABLE LATITUDE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
CURRENT AGREEMENT.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK10D (3)
DEF. D
SWAD PS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
SIR.D. WATSON
MR.LARMOUR
MR SYKES
MR THOMSON
MR MALE
COPIES
MA ANDREW
MR HANSFORD .
MR BRYARS
AUSS MOD TREASURY
CABINET OFFICE
MR AGGLESTON, PSA, DOE
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