CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Vereker (WED) Mr Coltman (SED) Mr Tatham (MED) Mr Powell (NENAD) Mr Smith (SEAD) Mr Holloway (SAD) Mr Hime (SWPD) Mr Varcoe (CSAD)
Mr Rosling (EAD)
Mr MacKilligan (WAD) Mr Sindall (SAMD)
Mr Pettitt (PTD)
Mr Holmes (WIAD) Mr Masefield (FED)
Mr Yarnold (NAD) Mr Perceval (M&CD)
Mr Quant ill (HKGD)
HKK obal!
IN
No
4 JAN 1978
OFFICER
KO. 51
Action fake.
THE DEPLOYMENT OF RN TASK GROUP 317.8
Reference
DPG 076/2
(197)
No Thompson
I do not thich we want to intervene in this, dowe?
Or 20712
1.
Mrs Williams' (MOD DS 5) letter of 14 December about the deployment of task group 317.8 has been copied separately to most of interested FCO geographical departments. I attach a copy for those
not included on her list.
2. The effect of abandoning the original idea of a westabout deployment round the world is not great. It means only that the Caribbean and the west coast of the Americas cannot be visited. But as the Belize guard- ship is normally available for contingencies and flag waving in the Caribbean area, and as both Caribbean and the coast of the Americas were visited this year by Task Group 317.7 I see no need to press MOD to reconsider. The deployment has been adjusted to allow more time in the Indian Ocean South East Asia and the South Pacific. I think that this is the right order of priorities for a deployment outside the NATO area in 1979.
3. I have compared the proposals in Mrs Williams' letter against FCO's priorities set out in my letter DPG 076/1 of 12 June to Mr Marsh (copied to you). As far as North East Asia is concerned we have already agreed with MOD that China, Japan and the Republic of Korea should be covered in the next major group deployment outside the NATO area in 1980.
4. As far as East Africa is concerned the position does not appear to be entirely satisfactory. We have of course had visits to the Seychelles this year (survey ships on Liberation Day in June, and more recently, frigates from the CENTO xercise MIDLINK). But there is no provision in the programme for a visit to Kenya to which EAD attach considerable importance. On present plans there will be a visit to Kenya in 1980.
CODE 18-77
CONFIDENTIAL
15.
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