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7. EAD are minuting separately about British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). to say that both BIOT and Ascension Island will be required for Anglo/US defence purposes for the foreseeable future As neither has an indigenous population the
questions of independence and defence guarantees would not appear to arise.
8.
I agree with you that the idea of a UN guarantee is not a starter. Except in the special circumstances of Korea there has never been an occasion when UN forces have been commited in a combat role to repel an invader. UN military operations have been limited to the provision of peacekeeping forces after a conflict has broken out involving Member States. But a defence guarantee involves one party (or parties) committing itself to come to the aid of others in certain specified circumstances. I cannot envisage circumstances in which members of the UN would be willing to guarantee British Territories against an unspecified post-independence threat of aggression which could only emanate from other members of the UN.
CC:
Miss Stoddart, WIAD
Mr Nason, PTD Mr Fullerton, SED
Mr Sindall, SAmD
Mr Joy, M&CD
Mr Rosling, EAD
(for information)
Mr Posnett
Mr Bone, Research Dept
Mr Barltrop, CCD
Planning Staff
24 October 1978
Bolin A. Menn.
CA Munro Defence Department
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