CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Paul I suggest
an eschra two sentences in para 4.
DRAFT FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO:
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE
pil Mycogen
HKD
M Store,
This looks ok IC
me. NPDDhane caked for urgent
Gilli Coglin 1917
comment!"
Out of Area Defence Commitments
1. In my minutes of 18 June and 4 July about HMS
Endurance and the Hong Kong Patrol Craft respectively, I
said taht
ht I wished to take stock of these issues in the
wider context of our other out of area responsibilities,
especially the defence of our Dependent Territories as a
whole.
2. It is clear that our deployments, for the most part,
derive from inescapable commitments and requirements and relate primarily to the defence of our remaining Dependent Territories in several of which we have a strong foreign policy interest. My understanding is that in these circumstances it is unlikely that any
substantial changes would be contemplated as part of the Options for Change review.
3. Nevertheless there is pressure on us to accept changes relating to some of these commitments which cause me considerable concern. This applies first of all to
HMS Endurance and the Hong Kong Patrol Craft. In both
cases there are powerful arguments in terms of bilateral relations and Dependent Territory interests in favour or
retention. In the case of Endurance the symbolism is of
VR9ADK
CONFIDENTIAL