223
SECRET
The Heads of:
WOD
NAD
Caribbean Dept
PDTD
CSAD
SAD
EAD
SEAD
G&G D
SWPD
HKIOD
LAD
MED
NENAD
WED
Cc:
Mr Metcalfe, GIPD
SEED
SWED WIAD
- 5 DEC 1974
HKK10/9
Mr Brown, News Dept
Mr Thomson
Mr McLaren, WOD
Mr Jackson
Mr Westbrook
DEFENCE REVIEW: GUIDANCE
1. A Farliamentary Statement is expected on 3 December. Departments are aware of its general content but it will not be finalised until at least 25 November. Guidance will be required for all posts. This will be supplementary to the instructions being sent to certain posts about consult- ations. In general it will be necessary for posts to stick very closely to the Parliamentary Statement, which will of course go to posts in the verbatim service. We envisage one general guidance telegram underlining the economic scene against which the Defence Review is being conducted and that HMG have reached only provisional conclusions about the size and shape of the defence forces, on the basis of which they are making proposals to Allies and partners. It will point out that everything the Government can say at this stage will be contained in the Parliamentary Statement, and that posts cannot therefore in answering questions go beyond it on matters of substance.
and
2. In most cases this should suffice. However, in the case of a few posts it may be necessary to amplify the state- ment and/or draw the attention of posts to particular passages in it which are likely to cause concern locally, to give them discretion to speak as necessary to local governments.
In these cases the main guidance telegram would be followed up by further guidance to individual posts.
3. As regards press enquiries, we would expect posts to refer detailed questions to London. But in a few exceptional cases there may be a need to provide posts with material to cover likely press questions.
UKDEL NATO is an obvious
example but if there are others which Departments feel should be similarly provided perhaps they would let us know.
SECRET
Alt.
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