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CONFIDENTIAL
South-West Pacific Nuclear Free Zone
Monsieur Raimond said that the French position was very reserved on the Protocols, not only because of problems with their nuclear tests, but also with fleet deployments. The latter affected Britain and the United States as much as France. France hoped that her allies would be prudent on this: if they subscribed to the Protocols this would be very difficult for France. The Secretary of State said that there was no likelihood of our acceding rapidly to the Protocols. We would want to study them carefully, and their implications. It was not an easy area.
Cyprus
Monsieur Tremeau wondered whether there was any new developments on Cyprus. There was to be discussion between experts from France, Britain, Germany and Italy shortly. The Secretary of State said that he thought there was nothing
new.
We supported the Secretary General's activities and applied pressure generally to both sides. It was like a child's toy in which you needed to get two balls in the two eyes simultaneously. It would be useful to discuss it at expert level.
Arms to Argentina
The Secretary of State referred to Lady Young's conversation with Monsieur Bariani. The French were aware of the sensiti- vities of this for the British Government. We were particularly concerned about air field attack weapons which might be a threat to the new Airport; but also about air-launched missiles and combat aircraft. Argentina did not need these weapons even if she could afford them. We hoped that France would bear British anxieties in mind and withhold these weapons. Monsieur Raimond said that he had studied the dossier. France in principle wished to do nothing which would threaten the security of British troops. But they were honouring old contracts. One of these could involve the supply of some eight Exocets to Argentina, though at present these were being withheld because of a financial wrangle. The Secretary of State said that we would be concerned if these weapons were supplied. He wondered if Monsieur Raimond could look at this again. Monsieur Raimond agreed to do so.
CONFIDENTIAL
/Bilateral Relations