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CINCTE.1511/6130/18
UK EYES
ONLY
All the options listed above would require a minimum air transport and ground attack force to train and operate with the Army units, these might be at the expense of air defence and recco.
There
(6) To follow CDS's Guidelines. Cut out the Commonwealth Brigade entirely, while retaining 3 Commando Brigade. would then be the following options in support of SENTO:-
(a) No forcos.
(b) Be prepared to deploy a Brigado Group loss 2 battalions from the United Kingdom (tho 2 battalions being the Australian and New Zealand battalions).
(c) Contributo one battalion to a basically Australian Brigado. Initially this could, if necessary, bo a Royal Marines Commando which would be relieved by an Infantry Battalion from the United Kingdom.
(7) The air forces for these options would basically be air defence and recce permanently stationed in the Far East. Airfiolds would have to be maintained as staging posts for transport and strike forces to support the SETO contribution, which would have to be deployed from the United Kingdom.
7. The meeting re-convened at 1415 to enable the Secretary of State and members of his party to question the Commander-in-Chief and Service Commanders.
8.
The Secretary of State began by outlining his parameters which were to:
9.
ຄ.
Save foreign exchange.
b.
Make a substantial roduotion in the Defence Budget.
Lower the overall coiling numbers in the Services.
C.
The following points arose from questions:-
Royal Navy
Reduction to 50% would not present any problems by 1971, provided tasks vero cut.
b. The possibility should be investigated of transferring the aircraft carrier from the Far East Flect to the Home Fleet after Eagle's next Far East GSC log and thus save 2,500 men.
The CINCFE considorod that during the useful life of aircraft carriers, one should always be deployed in the Indian Occan/ Pacific Occan arca,
d. The commitment for one aircraft carrier and other forces from Far East to cover the withdrawal from Aden is not firm. ¡¡OD had merely asked Far East Command to carmerk the necessary forces. Thoir provision was not yet a firm commitment in support of the Federal South Arabian Government. If the provision of these forces would delay the rundown of Far East Command it might be that the UK Government would not offer the forces. Their provision therefore should not be considered mandatory.
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/c. If
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