SECRET
Page 62
(e) Plans were being finalised to enable us to withdraw our forces, and service families, in an emergency.
(f) We had a good case in the dispute with Malta but it was in danger of going by default publicly, and more should be done through official
publicity to remedy this.
THE PRIME MINISTER, summing up the discussion, said the report by
officials would be a useful background document against which to consider
the next step when a reply was received from Dr. Olivier to our invitation
to further discussions, as was likely before the resumption of proceedings
on their visiting forces legislation on Wednesday, 15th February.
It
might be necessary to arrange a meeting either of the Committee or of the
Cabinet at short notice early in the following week. If talks with Malta
Ministers took place the basis of our negotiating position remained as
agreed by the Committee at its last meeting.
The Committee
(1) Took note of the report by officials on the consequences of
total withdrawal of our forces from Malta, attached to OPD(67) 10.
(2) Invited the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Commonwealth Affairs to consider how the public presentation of the British case in the dispute with Malta could be nade more effective.
Cabinet Office, S.W.1.
13th February 1967
Page 62
-7-
SECRET
Page 62