TNAG-0055-FCO40-91-Defence-review-1977 — Page 62

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CINCFE. 1589/9025/5

1.

Mr A.C.S. Adams, CMG.

UK EYES ONLY

Political Adviser to Commander-in-Chief, Far East

Major General J. Harington,

Chief of Staff, Far East

Mr E.F. Given,

Chairman, Joint Intelligence Committee (Far East)

Group Captain B. Hamilton,

Director of Plans and Operations, Far East

Mr C.E. Starling,

Command Secretary, Far East Land Forces

Lieutenant Colonel N.T. Bagnall,

Personal Staff Officer to Commander-in-Chief, Far East

Captain A.S. Moreton,

Director of Plans (Navy), Far East

Colonel T. St G. Caulfeild,

Director of Plans (Army), Far East

Group Captain H.E. Walmsley,

Director of Plans (Air), Far East

Group Captain J.W. Louw,

Head of Secretariat, Far East

Lieutenant Commander B.D. Wansbury,

Secretary (Administration), Far East

Major J. Marshall,

Secretary (Plans), Far East

The COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF stated that he wished to sum-up the views which he had formed as a result of the discussions during the Secretary of State's visit. He felt that the problems which existed could be classified into the long, medium and short term.

a.

The Long Term

All that the Secretary of State had heard reinforced the view strongly held by the Commander-in-Chief and Service Commanders that a "residual military capacity" should remain beyond the mid-1970s and that there must be a real physical presence and not a form of words. In their view a smaller force based in Singapore served the purpose of such a capacity much better than a larger force as far away as Australia.

There had been complete unanimity of view that, even if HMG accepted a complete withdrawal in 9 years as a planning assumption, there were very great dangers to the stability of the area, and therefore to HMG's interests, in any announcement or suspicion that this was so. He urged that the options should be kept open. He accepted that the situation would change, but not necessarily for the better. Although at present they did not constitute a serious threat to the security of the area there was a danger that under certain circumstances the Overseas Chinese might turn to Communist China for leadership and protection and all that we had achieved in the last 20 years would have been in vain.

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/A.