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Mr Stuart, HIKION
Mr Lucas, MED
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Mr de Courcy-Ireland, SWPD Mr Goodison, SEED Mr Reid, CSAD
Mr Ewans, EAD Mr Chalmers, SAD Mr Squire, SEAD Mr McLaren, WOD Mr Bullard, EESD
Mr Harding, IRD
Cc:
Private Secretary Mr Weston
PS/PUS
Mr Thomson
Mr Cormack
Mr Doble
Mr McNally, Private Office
CABINET MEETING 27 FEBRUARY: DEFENCE WHITE PAPER
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I have already spoken to several Heads of Department about briefing for the Secretary of State for this meeting of the Cabinet. I have, agreed with Mr Weston to send the Secretary of State a copy today of the final draft of the White Paper so that he can have as much time as possible in which to look at it before the meeting. The brief for the meeting should reach him before close of play tomorrow.
2. I will try to get you copies of the final draft of Chapters I and II during the day but I cannot guarantee this. Broadly speaking it will not be very different, as regards non-NATO matters, from the text which went to OPD, except for small amendments to the passages on Cyprus and Brunei of which Mr Goodison and Mr de Courcy-Ireland are already aware. As regards NATO, I understand from the MOD that they have accepted the amendments to the passages on East-West relations and the military balance, etc, which were worked out with Mr McNally yesterday, though I have not yet been able to com- pare texts.
3.
I understand from the MOD that Mr Mason will put only a short covering note on the draft White Paper explaining that he and the Secretary of State have consulted allied governments on the basis of the earlier Cabinet decisions which led up to his 3 December statement, and inviting his Cabinet colleagues to note the outcome and to approve the text of the White Paper. The Prime Minister is expected to introduce the White Paper and commend it to the Cabinet. The MOD do not expect the Chancellor of the Exchequer to question the general level of defence expenditure any further at this stage; they
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