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CONFIDENTIAL
Commons on 26 March Sir Ian Gilmore pledged a Conservative Government to restore Services pay comparability this year.
Disarmament
8. The SALT negotiations "cannot be judged solely in terms of their own provisions. The Russians have been developing their military strength and pursuing expansionist policies "gift-wrapped in the benefits of Western economic cooperation. They do not have to give anything worthwhile in return." [No mention of MBFR, CTB, etc]
European Community
9. "Britain has nothing to gain from being the most reluctant member; she has everything to gain from being the most enthusiastic member," yet "... the Conservative Government will be no soft touch where vital British interests are at stake." (Mr Pym's speech of 3 April.)
10. Direct elections will be highly significant, both symbolically and in their results over time.
11. Above all the Community must be outward-looking "in support of Western democracy. It must not weaken our "strong bonds" with the Commonwealth (eg "We shall keep faith with New Zealand.") Equally Britain must work for "a strong relationship between the whole Community and the USA.
12. "The Community and NATO are complementary. coordinate the European armaments industry ...
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NATO needs the Community to
13. In its internal development the Community should be pragmatic rather than doctrinaire. "We should neither refuse cooperation to make a pretence of independence nor give a blank cheque to cooperation to make a pretence of inter- dependence.
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14. Reforms: "We want to see a more equitable budget; a CAP that is fairer to consumers and efficient producers and reduces ... surpluses; a CFP that will conserve stocks and secure the livelihood of our fishermen; and an end to trivial harmonisation and regulation.'
Anglo-US Relations
15.
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"In no part of the world would it be sensible for this country, or even Europe as a whole, to conduct affairs except in concert with the US. "
"For decades America has borne more than her fair share of the burden of safeguarding the free world ... of stemming the advance of Communism."
16. The European and Atlantic dimensions of British policy are "essentially complementary.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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