TNAG-0479-FCO40-544-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 29

THE PRIME MINISTER

Personal Minute

No. M. 138"/74-

10 DOWNING STREET

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Definer Dept

Mh

W/n

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851805

Sii & Allie.

Gr D Watson

In 3 thick in upbell

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE

かいしいはい

Mr Cable

Parly Unit

BL LEV/AID

Defence Review: Parliamentary Statement

News Dim

I have considered your minute of 6 November and that from the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary of 7 November; and agree that it would be better to have one statement rather than two.

I do not, however, feel that we should make this statement on 26 November. Following the bilateral consultations in Washington and Bonn, we may need an OPD meeting. The Cabinet will then have to consider, at separate meetings, first the two CPRS papers which have been commissioned and a paper on the nuclear deterrent as well as any points of substance arising from the consultations; and second the draft of the Parliamentary Statement. I hope we could reach agreement on the statement at a meeting on Monday 25 November, but I think it is too risky to commit ourselves to a statement the following day. I would not want the statement made during the Party Conference and I agree with the Foreign and Common- wealth Secretary that we should be able to deal with the matter at Conference by saying, in general terms, that we have taken our decision about the financial levels in accordance with the Manifesto and that we will very shortly be making a statement to Parliament.

I think therefore that the statement should be made on Tuesday, 3 December, and the Lord President is content with this, Consultations with NATO could begin on the same day. This date has a further advantage; a single statement will need to be as specific as possible and in one respect I would like to consider going rather further than the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary suggested in the fifth paragraph of his minute. I realise that we shall not be able to

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