CONFIDENTIAL UK EYES A
Looking further ahead, we may need to consider the possibility
Chinese student once further progress has been made in
restoring military links post Tiananmen Square.
of
SOUTH ASIA
20. This is the region where it has been necessary to make the
most significant reductions in guaranteed places. The position is further complicated by the continuing need to treat India and Pakistan equally. But, as previewed in last year's paper, I
believe the time is right to reduce India and Pakistan's
allocation of places to one each for 1993. I do not rule out the possibility in future years of using one of the floating places
to provide a second place for India - which is clearly the more
important of the two in foreign policy and defence sales terms but would be reluctant to do so if it implied that on a later
occasion, it would be necessary to give Pakistan two places
purely for the sake of equality of treatment.
21. However, because of the significant reduction in guaranteed
places for South Asia for 1993, I do believe that the third floating place should be given to another country in the region. I propose that Nepal should receive it on the understanding that a good candidate has been identified. It would also be timely in
view of the forthcoming reduction in the size of the Brigade of
Gurkhas and the desirability of encouraging links outside the
Gurkha context. Sri Lanka should also appear in the reserve list.
SOUTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
a
22. Although attendance by Argentina is likely to become priority soon, 1993 is probably too early. An invitation in 1994 is a strong possibility however, and were that to happen, it would be important to invite a Chilean as well to provide the necessary balance. Chile should not therefore receive a place in
1993, though it should appear low on the reserve list. I propose
CONFIDENTIAL UK EYES A