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THE DEFENCE SECRETARY said that we could not continue to supply
personnel on loan to Zambia until a satisfactory agreement was made;
informal assurances would not suffice. As matters stood these
personnel had volunteered on the understanding that they would have the protection of a normal loan agreement whereas in fact they could be
prosecuted in the Zambian civil courts for offences alleged to have
been committed even when they were in fact carrying out the orders of the
Zanbian Government, and they could be subjected to Zambian military law.
They were involved in internal security duties and very difficult
problems could arise at any time. If our service personnel were not
replaced at the end of their tours, the effect on Zambia's forces would
be very severe: the Zambian air force would cease to operate beyond
August this year when RAF technical officers were due to be replaced.
We had said that these officers would not be replaced unless a
satisfactory loan agreement was negotiated and we need not therefore
threaten more precipitate action now,
In discussion there was general agreement that British service
personnel could not continue to be supplied for service with the
Zambian forces unless a satisfactory agreement could be negotiated.
As regards the purported Zambian Note to the Chinese Embassy, the
likelihood was that it had been deliberately given to us, but it was not
clear whether any substance lay behind it. Although the presence of
Chinese military instructors in Zambia could have very serious repercussions in that country and elsewhere, it could be argued that
the Chinese Govemment would be unwilling to involve itself in a venture
which could easily misfire, But the possibility could not be ruled
out.
Summing up the discussion THE PRIME MINISTER said that the
Committee were agreed that British service persomel should not
continue to be supplied for service in Zambia unless a satisfactory
loan agreement was negotiated. It was not necessary at this stage
however to threaten a rapid withdrawal of personnel already serving
in Zambia. As regards the purported Note to the Chinese Embassy, our
High Commissioner in Lusaka should seek to establish whether
President Kaunda knew of this and, if so, what his views on it were.
The matter could then be considered further, but in the meantime an
assessment should be made of the Chinese threat in Zambia, taking
account of the purported Note.
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