&
Ry3⁄4/12
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29
HKC 062/5
Mr Pa
HKD
Payr
Miss Marsden
Someone might have
had the courtesy tell us at the time.
FUTURE OF THE GURKHAS
Pay MrStone 3/12 Mr Furry3/12
From:
MJ Williams
Date:
South Asian Department
29 November 1990
30%,
CC
:
Mr McLaren
to
Mr Burns
1.
Thank you for passing me a copy of Sir D Wilson's letter of 17 November under cover of your minute of 26 November.
28
2. As you know, it was agreed in late July that SAD would take over the lead in handling the points raised by the Governor during his meeting with the Prime Minister. These issues were considered fully by the relevant Cabinet
Committee prior to the Defence Secretary's statement on "Options for Change", and a marker letter to the MOD was
therefore more to reaffirm FCO concerns than a measure
designed to influence deliberations. The August holiday
month affected Ministerial availability, and we then took
advice that it would be tactically sensible to aim to issue a Ministerial letter shortly before the new Parliamentary
session, when a further statement on the "Options for
Change" exercise could be expected.
3.
The substance of the Governor's concern was addressed in
what appeared the most effective way. The Ministerial
exchange of correspondence was, as Mr Codrington's
submission of 11 October noted, a marker exercise which it
was agreed at the PUS's morning meeting on 12 October would
then be timely. I doubt that any of us need feel
embarrassed at the way this issue has been handled.
Myf. Willi
M J Williams
SLBABB/1
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