FAR EAST
}
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ASKED ABOUT THE PRESENT STAGE OF CONSULTATIONS WITH NEW ZEALAND
OVER THE WITHDRAWAL FROM SINGAPORE, VR. MASON SAID UK HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND OVER THE FIVE POWER DEFENCE ARRANGEMENTS. IF ANY ONE HAD EXPECTED WITHDRAWAL IT WAS THEM. AS FAR AS SINGAPORE WAS CONCERNED THE PM HAD RECOGNISED THE INEVITABILITY BACK IN NINETEENSIXTYEIGHT AND HAD DONE HIS UTMOST TO BUILD UP HIS SECURITY FORCES. CONCERNING NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA, HE REMINDED CORRESPONDENTS THAT THEIR FORCES IN THE AREA HAD REVERTED BACK TO NATIONAL COMMAND LAST JANUARY. HE ADDED THAT THOUGH BRITISH FORCES WOULD LEAVE SINGAPORE BY APRIL NEXT YEAR UK
WOULD STILL MAKE A SMALL FORCE CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR
DEFENCE SYSTEM, NEW ZEALAND, HE SAID HAD DISCUSSED THIS WITH UK, AND WERE HAPPY WITH THE PRESENT PROPOSALS. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN UK NAVAL TASK FORCES GO ON EXERCISES EAST OF THE CAPE THEY COULD BE JOINED
ON SUCH EXERCISES BY THE AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALANDERS.
IN A RESPONSE TO A LATER QUESTION ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL FROM
SINGAPORE, MR. MASON SAID THAT FORCES WOULD BE WITHDRAWN BY APRIL NEXT YEAR. HE MADE IT PLAIN THAT BRITAIN'S COMMITMENT TO CONSULT
ITS FOUR ALLIES UNDER THE FIVE POWER DEFENCE ARRANGEMENTS
WOULD BE MAINTAINED AFTER THAT TIME.
BRUNEI
f
ASKED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO WITHDRAW THE GURKHA BATTALION FROM
BRUNEI, MR. MASON SAID THIS WAS NOT A COST CUTTING EXERCISE BECAUSE THE SULTAN OF BRUNEI PAID FOR THE UPKEEP. IT WAS,
HOWEVER, IN KEEPING WITH THE GENERAL STRATEGY OF BRINGING BACK
BRITISH FORCES FROM OVERSTRETCHED COMMITMENTS IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE
ON NATO. THE SULTAN, HE ADDED, WOULD LIKE BRITAIN TO STAY THERE AND HE HAD LET HIS VIEWS BE KNOWN, ONE ROUND OF CONSULTATION HAD ALREADY
BEEN HELD WITH HIM AND ANOTHER WAS IN PROGRESS.
ENDS VS 065/75
LPS.
VERBATIM SERVICE 66/75
WEDNESDAY
19TH MARCH 1975
EXTRACTS FROM MR MASONS RADIO INTERVIEW
FOLLOWING IS AN EXTRACT OF INTERVIEW WITH MR MASON ON BBC RADIO
FOUR TODAY, MARCH NINETEEN.
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