GA L20.
EN CLAIR & BY BAG
FM = CO 852938Z JUL
UNCLASSIFIED
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062|1
НЕК
OR
- 5 J 1978
935.
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PA
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TO POUTINE CERTAIN MISSIONS AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES TELNO
GUIDANCE 93 OF 4 JULY
AGREEMENT ON ANGLO-BRUNEI TREATY
1. FOLLOWING TALKS IN LONDON, AGREEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED ON 29 JUNE (RETRACT €7829) THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE SULTAN OF BRUNE! SHOULD SIGN A TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION AS BETWEEN TWO FULLY SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT STATES. THE TREATY WILL BE INITIALLED IN SEPTEMBER AND PUBLISHED. AFTER SIGNATURE IN
DECEMBER. IT WILL COME INTO FORCE IN 1993.
LINE TO TAKE
2. UNDER THE TREATY, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL NO LONGER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING BRUNEI'S EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, OR HAVE A CONSULTATIVE COMMITMENT FOR HER EXTERNAL DEFENCE.
3. THE FIVE-YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD (UNTIL 1983) HAS BEEN AGREED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT BRUNEI HAS TIME TO PREPARE HERSELF ADEQU- ATELY FOR FULL INDEPENDENCE. IN AGREEING THIS, WE BORE IN MIND THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT BRITAIN'S WITHDRAWAL FROM HER RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE EXISTING 1971 AGREEMENT (WHICH WILL REMAIN IN FORCE UNTIL THE TREATY TAKES EFFECT) SHOULD NOT LEAD TO A SITUATION OF INSTABILITY. WE ANTICIPATE THAT OTHER COUNTRIES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA WILL THEREFORE WELCOME THE AGREEMENT, AND THAT BRUNEI WILL ENTER THE COMITY OF NATIONS, EQUIPPED TO PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE.
ADDITIONAL POINT (ONLY IF QUESTIONED)
4. WE HAVE AGREED THAT THE GURKHA BATTALION (STATIONED IN BRUNEI UNDER AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS WHEN THE 1971 AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED) SHOULD REMAIN FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS (UNTIL 1983).
/BACKGROUND