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5. We have conveyed to the Ministry of Defence at working
level that even if agreement with the Sultan is not possible, we may hope to remain on quite good terms with him, partly in order to retain the option of continuing access to his training facilities. It would be contrary to his long-standing policy of trying to maintain British military involvement in Brunei for him abruptly to deny us the facilities' use. We have added that we would not anticipate any decision to withdraw Loan Service Personnel now in Brunei (but we might not be so keen to satisfy all Brunei requests).
6. The Ministry of Defence will correspond further about the need for a decision by 1 April about the Gurkhas if they are
to meet their deadline for reductions of Gurkhas by 1 April 1979. I learn that the Ministry of Defence do not expect any reply
to Dr Gilbert's letter.
May Simon
12 January 1978
A M Simons
South-East Asian Department
CONFIDENTIAL
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