RIGE
ge
28 OCT 1975
CONFIDENTIAL covering SECRET
Private
Secretary
12
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du. Ja 333 24/10/2, dim
-28/10
Mr Male Male
HONG KONG DEFENCE COSTS NEGOTIATIONS
1.
You said that Lord Gerenwy-Roberts's Private Office
had queried whether the Secretary of State should send as full a minute to the Prime Minister as that proposed in the draft attached to my submission of 22 October in view of the fact that the Prime Minister has already approved the Defence Secretary's proposal 376) (Mr Wright's letter of 22 October to the MOD). This means, of course,
that three members of the OPD - the Chancellor, the Defence Secretary and, now, the Prime Minister - are agreed on the proposal. If the Secretary of State were alse to agree, he could say so, if he wished, without going int● the arguments set out in the draft minute.
2.
My own view is that there would still be advantage in putting a reasonably full FCO position on record. I have a feeling that the negotiations are likely to drag on for some time. (I think that Mr Rodgers will de very well if he can arrive at an agreed settlement during the course of a week.) If that is so and, of course, it is anyone's guess I would prefer that we should say something along the lines of the draft minute at this stage.
3.
-
Clearly, the draft minute should now take account of the Prime Minister's agreement to the Defence Secretary's proposal and I have tentatively written in one or two changes to cater for this.
23 October 1975
On reflecha, preferable (given that
sailing, I fear)
D.F. Meilm
D F Milton
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
that it would be
I think that
the future will not be plain
that the
That
the
amented draft
so farwand
Ps Lad
Gofancy.
Rebat
Yes, but
1
can see
no
ProMah
shalt
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the
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P.M. with minutes when he has already agreed. Smely shuld go to M. Masm.
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CONFIDENTIAL covering SECRET
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