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The Committee then discussed the section of the draft dealing with
our views on NATO strategy. It was argued that despite the substantial reduction of the draft, which could not well be taken further if any statement were to be made at all, it remained a major unilateral statement of strategic policy. As such it required very careful consideration both as to substance and timing, and would be better deferred until the
current defence studies and the discussions in NATO were completed. It
was suggested that the material in the section might however be used in
the defence debate. Against this it was pointed out that previous
Statements on Defence had dealt with our attitude to NATO and that to say
nothing this year, when the strong views that we held were well known
to our allies and to the press, would be bound to provoke questions and
to cast doubt on the firmness of the Government's views. We should
then come under heavy pressure to modify these. On balance the Committee
considered that the proposed section on NATO strategy should be included
in the policy and planning chapter though the first sentence of
paragraph 14 which dealt with our reliance on the threat of using nuclear
weapons should be omitted.
In further discussion a number of other amendments in the draft
chapter were agreed. It was also noted that the Vote on Account would
be published on 16th February, the same day as the Statement on the
Defence Estimates.
The Committee
Invited the Defence Secretary to revise the draft section in
accordance with the discussion and to circulate it to the Cabinet for their consideration on the following day.
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