ii.
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of the Prime Minister's and Secretary of State's visit to
Moscow in mind.
Chapter 1, paras. 17-43, which summarise the Defence Review decisions (in much the same terms as Mr Mason's 3 December
statement).
iii. Chapter II, paras. 37-47, which deal with Northern Ireland.
There are no points of substance which the Secretary of State need raise. (The style of this section is not very satis- factory, and it will be polished in conjunction with MOD later).
The remainder of Chapter I is devoted to the financial background to the Defence Review and details of its effects on the Services: Mr Mason's covering memorandum indicates the areas where it differs significantly from his 3 December statement, and there are no other points to which the Secretary of State's attention need be drawn. Chapters 11-VII cover technical and military matters (albeit in greater detail than usual in response to Parliamentary pressure), and the Secretary of State need only glance at them.
The draft has been agreed interdepartmentally at officin) levol, and no discussion of it is expected except for any passages in Chapter I affected by discussion of Mr Mason's memorandum on consultations.
Simonstown, Chapter 1, para. 42
A date for discussions with the South Africans has yet to be agreed. Para. 42 will be finalised in the light of the situation at the time of going to press.
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