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4.
Mr Dew's (RMD) minute of 12 September and Mr Ricketts' minute of 1 October provide further background on our approach during this period. In retrospect, however, we might have done well to write to MOD at the beginning of September setting out where matters then stood. I am sorry
that we did not think of this.
5. I have considered whether to recast the letter to MOD to begin by saying that we were surprised to learn that they had made no PES bid for the patrol craft in view of the facts of which they were aware and which we would
it is not
recapitulate. But there are disadvantages: this would sound over-anxious; and for us to tell MOD how to bid for funds or
to shop them to No 10 and the Treasury.
6. We do not expect the MOD to let matters rest here. The Defence Secretary has sought to reserve the right to propose the review of the decision to retain the patrol craft if the MOD are not compensated. And we may need to look at it in
the context of our overall out of area defence commitments.
The letters from No10 put the wall frainty visto the MOD's caust. It was
for the MOI) not. the "10 To pursue the question of finance
ритие
Кого
in the 1992 PES Round. They have
N J Cox
appesently chosen not to, and have not-neucated
their thinking to Andawimans
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