TNAG-0538-FCO40-633-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 104

CONFIDENTIAL

3RD DRAFT

defence matters and make their views known to the member

governments in the WEU Council

EAST/WEST RELATIONS

18.

In pursuit of measures of genuine detente, the

Government is at present engaged with other members of the NATO

Alliance in negotiations aimed at establishing a more stable

relationship with the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern

Europe; in the Conference on Security and Co-operation in

Europe in Geneva, where neutral and non-aligned countries

also participate; and in the negotiations on Mutual and Balanced

Force Reductions in Vienna. The British Government is

playing a full and positive role in both these negotiations.

19. But progress in these negotiations depends on the Warsaw

Pact's being prepared to demonstrate that detente in its eyes

is not just a device to divide and anaesthetize the West while

the East pursues its goal of progressively shifting the balance

of power in favour of the Soviet system. The West needs to be

convinced, by action rather than by words, that force, or the

threat of force, will not be used against any member of the

Alliance or against neutrals; and that verifiable arms control

measures can be agreed which will increase, rather than diminish,

the security of both East and West. The current East-West

negotiations will put the good will of the Warsaw Pact to the

test.

The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe

20.

CSCE)

Thirty-five nations are taking part in the Conference on

Security and Co-operation in Europe.

II-9

CONFIDENTIAL

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