THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
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Printed for the Cabinet. November 1955
SECRET
C.P. (55) 170
3rd November, 1955
CABINET
Copy No. 62
DEFENCE TALKS WITH SOUTH AFRICA
MEMORANDUM BY MINISTER OF DEFENCE
My colleagues may like to have a short report on discussions with Mr. Erasmus, the South African Minister of Defence, during his further visit to London on 24th-26th October.
2. The Lord Privy Seal, the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Commonwealth Relations took part with me in the talks, which mainly concerned details arising from the agreements negotiated in June (Command 9520) and action following on these agreements. The main points covered were as follows.
(1) The South African Naval Programme
We took Mr. Erasmus to task about the deletion from this eight-year programme of two frigates. The undertaking by South Africa to place orders for a number of new ships, including six frigates, had been part of the bargain published in the June White Paper and a considerable justification in our eyes for transferring Simonstown to them. Mr. Erasmus explained that he was limited to expenditure of £18 millions on the programme. Rising costs and the need to allow for adequate stores and spares made it impossible at present for him to order all the ships. But he agreed to reconsider this in a year or two, when it was seen how costs were working out.
(2) Extension of Naval Agreement to Include Other Countries
The agreement concerning defence of the sea routes round southern Africa and the command arrangements contained provision for other countries to accede. Mr. Erasmus was anxious to extend invitations to France, Portugal and Belgium. We persuaded him that it would be wise for the two founder-members first to settle between themselves the broad shape of the organisation. On this understanding we agreed that the Joint Maritime Planning Committee should meet as quickly as possible and tackle an agenda, which we agreed. It was decided that, provided the work of the Committee revealed a satisfactory identity of view, we should aim at the issue of joint invitations in January. If the other countries were agreeable, a conference between Governments might follow in Capetown.
(3) African Defence Facilities Conference
Mr. Erasmus appeared to be in no hurry for the conference referred to in the Memorandum printed in Section I of Command 9520. It was agreed that information should be exchanged with a view to the possibility that the conference should be held some time in the late summer of 1956. London was mentioned as the possible venue.
(4) Staff Talks
Staff talks were agreed upon in an exchange of secret letters in June. Mr. Erasmus expressed a fear that the precise agenda proposed by us for the talks implied the commitment of South African forces to the Middle East. We
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