Registry
No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
DRAFT
SUBMISSION
Type 1 +
From
To:-
Top Secret,
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Mr Murray
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
r Mallaby ESD
In Confidence
NAVAL EXCHANGES WITH CHINA
Problem
RC Samuel
Telephone No. Ext.
Department
DSR 11
r Gillmore
efence Dept
r Burges
RED
food would the ceretoria +
Watson
->
1The Ministry of Defence have sought our views on proposals
that a Royal Navy task group should visit Shanghai next year, and should then go on to visit a Russian port (possibly
af with an intervening visit eg to Japan)in between); • The Ministry of Defence have also proposed that the First Sea Lord should visit China earlier in the year. The C'G'S' has also cheated
Recommendation
an
interest in visiting china
}
2. I recommend that we should tell the Ministry of Defence
suppor that FCO Ministers fought the proposals for a Royal Navy visit to Shanghai, and a visit to China by the First Sea Lord, and that they expect that all briefing will be arranged
in close consultation with the FCO; but that they do not wish to consider a visit to a Russian port at this stage, & believe that a visit to China bong the C'G'S' as well as the & First Sea 3. East European Soviet, Defence and Trade Relations and
Export Departments concur.
Background
R'N'
4.
Every year RN Task Group deploys for about 8 months outside NATO area for a series of visits to, and exercises with,navies of friendly nations. At present a task group in the South Pacific. Next year's task group will deploy to North East Asia, via the Gulf and Indian ocean. It will consist of two destroyers, 3 frigates, and 3/4 support
ships.
5. Mr Blaker did not support the suggestion of an RN visit to a Soviet port in the second half of next year, discussed
Dd 0532000 800M 5/78 HMSO Bracknell
is