TNAG-0537-FCO40-632-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 46

CONFIDENTIAL

2ND DRAFT

reduce its conventional ground forces manpower to the same number

and that such reductions should take into

a "common ceiling"

account current disparities in combat capability. NATO has suggested

that the first phase of reduction leading towards this ultimate aim

of approximate parity of ground forces should be made by the United

States and the Soviet Union, both of whom occupy a special place

in their respective Alliances, and whose military resources are far

greater than those of the other participants.

28. The Warsaw Pact for its part has proposed equal percentage

reductions in all the forces of both sides. This would perpetuate

the current imbalance of forces in the Warsaw Pact's favour. but at

lower levels. Such a basis for force reductions would do nothing

to correct the imbalance which the West believes to be a serious

potential threat to political stability in Europe; nor would it be

compatible with the principle that the outcome of MBFR should assure

undiminished security for both East and West at a lower level of

forces. On the basis proposed by the Warsaw Pact, the smaller NATO

forces could be reduced to a level at which they could no longer

effectively defend the existing (and irreducible) length of front

against the still superior Warsaw Pact forces facing them; in which

event their deterrent value, and hence the security of the West,

would be seriously impaired.

29. The West's preparations for the negotiations have been

meticulous and its objectives and strategy have been clearly defined.

as befits negotiations of such crucial importance for the security

of the Alliance. The unity of the Alliance's negotiators is a

powerful tribute to the flexibility of the NATO consultative

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11 CONFIDENTIAL