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reinforcement of Europe. The Soviet Union could carry out reinforcement in Europe over their

their own and their allies' territory. They had both agreed that it was necessary for the present negotiations on conventional force reductions in Europe to be completed and for implementation to be under way before there could be any consideration of discussing further cuts. There had been agreement both at the EC Heads of Government inner in Paris on 18 November and at Camp David that the

gstion of European borders should not be raised.

It was woying that Chancellor Kohl had now done so, though Herr enscher had taken a more realistic line. She had discussed Fenal issues with President Bush, including the Middle East. He deeply concerned over developments in Nicaragua. More arm from Bulgaria, East Germany and Cuba were arriving there than a year ago.

Some of these were being diverted to assist the guerillas in El Salvador. There had been a short discussion on the Vietnamese boat people. The President had observed that he hated to be at odds with Britain. She had reminded him that the United States deported illegal immigrants from Haiti and Mexico in the same way as Britain was proposing to do.

Concluding, the DE MINISTER said that all in all, this had been an excellentpeting. She had come away very conscious of the United States goverment's preoccupation with its budgetary problems. If the United States government. If there were cuts in United States defere pending, this would probably mean that Britain would have to dertake more obligations, rather than less. She had been ouraged by President Bush's clear perception of the need for United States troops and nuclear weapons to remain in Europe.ey had a common understanding on the importance of preserving present NATO and Warsaw Pact structures for the foreseeable future.

efence Policy mmittee Meeting

Brussels

IA

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE aid that he had attended the Defence Policy Committee Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on 28 November, which had been preceded on 27 November by a Eurogroup Ministerial meeting, comprising Defence Ministers from the European nations which participate in (the integrated North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) structure. There had been considerable apprehension among European Defence Ministers about the statements made by the United States Defense Secretary, Mr Dick Cheney. The Danish Defence Minister, Mygaard, had remarked that his government had just reached all-party agreement on defence spending, but this had now been town into disarray by Mr Cheney's remarks. The Defence Secret aid he had had a private meeting with Mr Cheney before the Ebgroup meeting. He had explained Britain's concerns about protested cuts in United States defence spending. Mr Cheney had taken note. In his statement at the restricted session Defence Policy Committee, Mr Cheney had reassured his collec that there would be full consultations within the Alliance

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