AS I HAVE
EXILLAINED IN PRIMIOUS CORRESPONDENCE,
I HAS NO
NO OJJRT $
THAT THEY
CONTINUE TO
PERFURTU AN IMPORTANT
MILITARY
CONFIDENTIAL,
AND POLITICAL FUNCTION. THEIR PREMATURE WITHDRAWAL WOULD SEND THE
LARONG
SIGINALS,
BUTH LUCALLY
AND TO
THE
CHINESE,
WITH
POTENTIALLY
SERIOUS
CENDIFQUENCES
I BELIEVES A WAAY MUST
BE Form
no
REJULVESA
Ons
bif
String bitck-
britt ICES
Kowe
Quicking
I have also reluctantly
concluded that,
Pra
at the Cevenar
comial this.
of 475 has consistently mantraved Hith would loose a great deal by forcing to thig to go to the femore committee of t course important primarily in the Falklands context -
the Legistatis ship is perceived by the Argentines, Falkland Islanders
and other countries as the embodiment of HMG's commitment
to our Dependent Territories in the South Atlantic. But just as important is the practical role of the ship both in supporting our claim to the BAT against competing
claims by Argentina and Chile (both of whom demonstrate
their presence through their armed forces) and in enabling the British Antarctic Survey to carry out
scientific work in areas it could not otherwise reach.
4.
Territory. with the settland
As for the Patrol Craft in Hong Kong there is no
doubt in my mind about their important political and
military role. Premature withdrawal could I believe
jeopardise much of what we have been working for in the
If diffofste improved relations allt China oper Now have a year basic for
HIC・ withdrawed of the craft could well unravel it
I must therefore ask you to look again at the
continued deployment of both HMS Endurance (or a
replacement should that be necessary) and the patrol
craft on the same basis as hitherto.
5.
W
6. The two other deployments about which I am concerned that problems might soon arise are the Belize Garrison and the West Indies Guard Ship (WIGS). As regards
Belize, our ultimate objective is of course full
withdrawal of the garrison, and preferably sooner rather
than later. But I hope there will be no question of partial or early withdrawal before a satisfactory outcome
is reached in the talks between Belize and Guatemala.
Such proposals could raise doubts in both countries about our commitment, and upset prospects for a negotiated settlement. As for the WIGS, apart from its rebrance to
CONFIDENTIAL