TNAG-2240-FCO40-3219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 158

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تسم مام

CONFIDENTIAL

From: PS/Mr Garel-Jones Date: 12 July 1991 cc: Mr Goulden

PS/Mr Hogg

P8/Mr Lennox-Boyd PS/Lord Caithness PS/PUS

Mr Weston

Mr Broomfield

Sir J Coles

Mr Fairweather Mr Beamish Mr Burns WIAD

Mr Lax Mrlax

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Mr Stone is calm 1078

Pal

LAD

SAAD

SEAD

HKD

MED

SED

SAD

EAD

Sec Pol Dept

Policy Planning Staff

Private Secretary

OUT OF AREA DEFENCE COMMITMENTS

1.

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Mr Garel-Jones has seen Mr Goulden's submission of 11 July covering a draft minute from the Secretary of State to the Defence Secretary. As he commented on an earlier version of the submission, Mr Garel-Jones believes we should not offer up some of our out of area defence commitments as low priorities. He still believes, for tactical reasons, we should at least at this stage stand firm.

2.

Mr Garel-Jones is particularly concerned at the paragraph in the draft minute covering the Belize garrison. Given the news in Guatemala telno 137 of 11 July (not copied to all recipients) that Guatamala is about to begin talks with Belize, we should do nothing which might reduce the Guatemalan incentive to negotiate. He therefore would see objection to beginning contingency plans for the withdrawal of the garrison and its replacement by a rapid reinforcement plan; he thinks it extremely unlikely such an exercise could remain confidential for long. The most we should do in the minute is flag up the possibility of a settlement in the next 12 months.

Tim Kitchen,

Tim Hitchens

Private Secretary to Mr Tristan Garel-Jones

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