TNAG-0477-FCO40-542-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 152

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20.

Paragraph 31

7.

Replace with the following formula:

"Gibraltar is no longer of any great military importance to us, although it has some value for NATO. But if our current policy of sustaining it is to continue, a garrison and support of the dockyard will be necessary so long as there is no change in the attitudes of Spain and the Gibraltarians. The cost will be

of the order of 13 a year."

21.

Faragraph 32

In the third sentence delete the brackets and the word

"perhaps".

22.

Faragraph 33

Insert the word "perhaps" before "a larger United Kingdom support and training base".

23.

i)

Paragraph 37

The first sentance should be expanded to read:

"The first level involves the abandonment of all commit-

ments in the Mediterranean and outside the NATO area. Its other

main effects would be:-".

ii)

At the end of paragraph 37(b) add the following:

"Any reduction in BAOR not achieved as the result of an MBFR agreement would be contrary to our undertakings, would cause major problems with our Allies, and could involve a difficult and politically dangerous re-negotiation of the protocols to the Brussels Treaty",

24.

Paragraph 39

Amend the second sentence.to read: "to provide for some non-NATO and ...".

25.

Paragraph 40

Amend the first line to read: "We have considered

whether, in the circumstances of the first level, instead of ...".

Foreign and Commonwealth Office 5 vii 1974

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