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The point was also made that it would be impossible to decide on the final form of a statement until it was known what the nature and composition of the republican administration might be, and whether it would include Mr. Smith.
In further discussion, it was agreed that it would be undesirable to include in the statement any reference to our attitude to the use of force.
Though there would be advantages in disengaging from our pledge not to use
force, a repudiation of this pledge would be likely to lead to renewal of
pressure from other African countries to use it and we were not in a position
to do so save for the purpose of restoring law and order.
A number of drafting amendments to the statement were also suggested.
THE PRIME MINISTER, summing up, said that the Commonwealth Secretary
should, in the light of the discussion, consider a revision of the draft
statement in consultation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary
of State for Defence and the Attorney-General on the lines that had emerged
in discussion. No reference to any reconsideration of our attitude to the
use of force should be made without further consideration by Ministers
collectively.
The Committee
Invited the Commonwealth Secretary, in consultation with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Defence and the Attorney-General, to revise the draft statement on the lines indicated by the Prime Minister.
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