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ANNEX B to
OPD (75)
DRAFT LETTER FROM SECRETARY GENERAL TO MR ROY MASON, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, UNITED KINGDOM
Concurrently with your statement in the House of Commons
on 3rd December, 1974, Sir Edward Peck and Field Marshal Sir Mich-s1
Carver initiated the process of consultation with the Alliance
here in Brussels on the outcome of the British Defence Review.
Last week, and again today, the Defence Planning Committee of NATO
met to consider the effect on NATO security of the changes proposed
in the British defence programme as a result of this review; in
doing so they had the benefit of detailed assessments by the Major
NATO Commanders and by the Military Committee. I have been asked
to convey the views of the Defence Planning Committee to you and
your colleagues in the following terms.
They
2. Your Allies wish to express their sympathetic understanding
of the economic difficulties, which the United Kingdom, in common
with other member countries, is now facing. They wish to pay
tribute to the important military contribution which your country
now makes, and has traditionally made, to the Alliance.
recognise that even if this contribution is reduced on the full
scale proposed, the proportion of national resources, measured as
a percentage of the gross national product, which the United
Kingdom will devote to defence is still likely to be comparable to
that of its major Allies. While noting that a small proportion of
the reduced defence effort will be in support of canmitments other
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