4.
ALDABRA
(Previous Reference: OPD (66) 28th Meeting, Item 2)
The Committee had before them memoranda by the Secretary of State for Defence (OPD (67) 57) on the development of airfield facilities at Aldabra and by the Secretary of State for Education and Science (OPD(67) 58), on its
scientific implications.
THE DEFENCE SECRETARY said that a further survey of Aldabra and
discussions with the United States authorities about sharing the cost had
taken place on the lines previously agreed by the Committee. The facilities
planned at Aldabra could provide from 1971 onwards an extra staging post in
the Indian Ocean, a forward operating airfield for use if required for action
in Africa or the Persian Gulf and greater operational flexibility during the
period of disengagement and withdrawal from the Far East and the Middle East.
They would in particular provide an alternative way of reaching the
Persian Gulf and the Far East if the route through the member countries of
the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) were closed. In withdrawal from
the Far East, should the CENTO route be closed we should then be less dependent
in respect of the speed of our withdrawal on the goodwill of the United States
Government for facilities on the west-about route. As regards Africa, while
we had no wish to become involved in operations there we could not rule out
the possibility that we might feel compelled to take some action there at
a future date, e.g. in the evacuation of British nationals or in support
of United Nations action, or in the western Indian Ocean, for instance in
an extended blockade of Mozambique, for which facilities at Aldabra would
important. In all these circumstances the additional flexibility which
would be provided by the proposed facilities at Aldabra would be most valuable.
A further important consideration would be the assurance which such a decision
would give to our allies of our intention to maintain a continuing capability
for action in the Far East.
The total estimated cost of providing facilities was of the order of
£27-28 million to which £2 million should be added to cover the cost of
additional facilities at Lscension Island. The United States Government,
who were expecting us to develop Aldabra, were likely, subject to further
negotiations, to be prepared to cover half the cost at Aldabra and had already
made provision for a contribution in their budget for the financial year 1968. The total cost to us was therefore likely to be up to £16 million;
having regard to the expected United States contribution in dollars there
should be a net gain in foreign exchange.
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