TNAG-0480-FCO40-545-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 169

Mr. Stiant!.

This come fr

at My

Що її

darmour's meeting today. Mr. Male and that Gurdone

would be issued

at the came

tune

Govenor informed; Def.

Deft are working this

now

on

Di

?

18/11

Larrangements

Mr Tallboys (G&GD)

DEFENCE REVIEW

n, Twins Dr Dinkinddy

but

not

1. We both attended the meeting on

1971

Mr Walker Ml

•PA BD 19/11

to see. 14

on the Novenes Seychelles

which further action on "consultation" regan to Housto

Defence Review was rather briefly discussed.

2. I would be grateful to know whether your interpretation of that discussion and your view on what we now have to do next, coincides with mine. My thinking is as follows.

18/11

3. At some time between 25 November (when the final Cabinet is expected to be held on the Review) and

3 December (when the Parliamentary Statement is expected to be made), we need to inform all Governors of Dependent Territories of the fact that the Statement will be made and of the gist of what the Statement will say.

I think that this communication to Governors will need to refer not only to the announce- ment in the statement that "we will of course maintain our existing obligations towards the remaining Dependent Territories" (which is our only solid gain as a result of the summer's negotiations), but also to the scope and extent of the cuts in non-NATO defence provision which will be announced in the Parliamentary Statement. So far as I am concerned, this relates mainly to the withdrawal of SNOWI's frigates and perhaps also (although this would not be a matter for the general telegram) to the remaining capability for the relief and reinforcement of the Royal Marine detachment in the Falkland Islands.

4.

My own view would be that the circular telegram to Governors should go this far based on the latest available version of the proposed Parliamentary Statement. I hope that G&GD will coordinate this and draft the circular telegram.

5.

In WIAD we would then send following telegrams to the Governors of Belize and the Falkland Islands explaining to them and authorising them to explain to their Ministers or Executive Councils that the present statement about the Defence Review envisages that the garrison in Belize and the Royal Marine detachment in the Falkland Islands will remain. To the Governor of the Falkland Islands, I would like to add whatever information I can as a result of the enquiries which I have asked Mr Westbrook to make about the proposed future for the relief or reinforcement of the Falkland Islands detachment.

This part of the exercise would be for WIAD, and we would draft, but we would pass through you to Defence Departmert to authorise despatch if they agree.

6. There is however one further thought on which

I should welcome your views. The general cut in

non-NATO commitments, and within my parish particularly of course the withdrawal of SNOWI's frigates, will come as a very serious disappointment even perhaps a shock to Governors who have not been

-

SECRET

/told

*****