CONFIDENTIAL
150
The Thin
//
SECRETARY
OF STATE
CONFIDENTIAL
MO 9/1/1(B)
Shilawaiting FCO cleara
ळू
Dear Bryan
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
MAIN BUILDING WHITEHALL LONDON SW1
HKK 062/1. Telephone 01-07 218 2111/3
RECEIVEO....
D.
INDEX
1 1 AUG 1978
51
#TRY
on Taken
Noisa No ISO I CLE
1
10th August 1978
ccastor pes
Lotereno
1-10
Defence Department le
Mr Murray Squ Ps/Mr Judd
SEAD
SAD
HKGD
iCCAS
Ind. G. Roberts
Irus
Sir A. Duff Mr Cortadi
FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS
Mr Moberly
Thank you for your letter of 2nd August conveying the Prime Minister's agreement to the retention of five battalions of Gurkhas.
The Gurkha battalion in Brunei is not available under any circumstances for internal security operations. Its use for defence against external attack is subject, under the present arrangements, to joint consultation and this will remain the case until the new Treaty comes into effect. Thereafter, neither the residual elements of the battalion as it runs down, nor any small team which may remain to run the jungle training facilities, will be available to the Sultan for any sort of operations. This point should be clear to the Sultan but it would be sensible in due course to ensure that there is no misunderstanding: the timing of such an approach will be a matter on which the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary will wish to advise, but it would seem appropriate to delay it until nearer the end of the present arrangements.
I am sending copies of this letter to the Private Secretaries of the other members of DOP and to Martin Vile (Cabinet Office).
{ན,,,!,,
Roger Feres
(R LL FACER)
Private Secretary
BG Cartledge Esq ·
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