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R. TURNHILL:
WELL, NOW YOU'RE PLANNING TO PULL OUT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN COMPLETELY AT A TIME THAT YOU YOURSELF CALLED A TIME OF TERRIFIC STRAIN: DON'T YOU THINK NATO'S LIKELY TO COLLAPSE ALTOGETHER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN IF WE PULL OUT?
MR. MASON: NO, I DON'T THINK IT IS, BUT WE'RE NOT NOW INTENDING TO PULL OUT COMPLETELY BECAUSE THE MILITARY COMMITTEE OF NATO HAVE ASKED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, DURING THE CONSULTATIVE PHASE, IF WE ARE PREPARED TO PERIODICALLY SEND NAVAL FORCES INTO THE SOUTHERN REGION AND THIS WE ARE PREPARED TO DO. IT WILL BE PART OF THE ON-CALL NAVAL FORCE AND, THEREFORE, WE HAVE RESPONDED SYMPATHETICALLY TO ONE OF THEIR REQUESTS.
R. TURNILL: BUT WE'RE IN EFFECT LEAVING IT TO AMERICA TO HOLD THESE NATIONS LIKE TURKEY AND GREECE TOGETHER?
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MR. MASON: WELL, YOU KCOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT THERE ARE STRAINS IN GREECE AND IN TURKEY AND IN PORTUGAL. THE ALLIANCE HAS UNDERGONE THESE STRAINS BEFORE AND HAS COME THROUGH, BUT THESE NATIONS ARE NOT PLEDGED TO LEAVE NATO SO I DON'T WANT TO PAINT THE PICTURE DARKER THAN IT REALLY IS.
R. TURNILL: OF COURSE YOU'VE GIVEN RATHER A GRIM WARNING ABOUT WHAT RUSSIA MIGHT DO WITH HER FORCES IN EUROPE, AREN'T YOU WORRIED ABOUT THAT TOO IN RELATION TO THE CUTS?
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MR. MASON: YES, I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT AND THAT'S WHY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT ITS FUTURE ROLE IS GOING TO BE IN THE CENTRAL REGION, THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONCENTRATE MOST OF OUR FORCES IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF EUROPE. YOU SEE, THAT IS OUR FRONT LINE AS WELL AS BEING THE GERMAN FRONT LINE. THE NATO ALLIANCE THEREFORE AND OUR OPERATIONS WITHIN EUROPE, THEY ARE GOING TO BE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE FOR US IN THE FUTURE. NATO IS GOING TO BE THE LYNCHPIN OF OUR SECURITY. DOTS DOTS DOTS.
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CENTROFORME LDN
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