CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 243

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In discussion, doubts were expressed whether the advantages of the

development of airfield facilities on Aldabra as a measure of reinsurance

for our future possible air transport requirements justified the cost. A

situation in which the use of all other alternative available air routes was

interdicted and yet we were involved in conflict in the Middle or Far East

was hard to envisage; nor did the airfield seem likely to be required for

action in Africa. Moreover, the construction of such an airfield might be

held to constitute an additional commitment in the area of the sort which it

had been the purpose of recent defence decisions to reduce. There might

be an advantage in deferring a decision until the reactions of our allies

in the Far Eastern area to the policy in that area which we had recently

announced could be fully assessed, and until it could be considered what

alternative measures of reinsurance might be available to us.

On the other hand, it was argued that the cost involved would be

relatively small for producing additional military flexibility and a means

of convincing our allies of our determination to maintain our capability

in the Far East area. It was part of the price we had to pay for our

decision to make the much greater saving to be gained from our withdrawal from the Far East bases. If it were necessary to make provision for air transport over the longer routes without the facilities afforded by Aldabra,

more aircraft would be required at correspondingly greater cost. Moreover,

when the decision had been taken in 1966 to phase out our aircraft carrier force, this had been on the assumption that we should have bases in the

Indian Ocean from which land-based aircraft could in future operate to protect our naval forces. In any case, an early decision whether or not to proceed

with the development of Aldabra was most desirable.

In further discussion on the scientific interests involved, the point

was made that on the basis of past experience, given the required co-operation

with scientific bodies, the presence of the Services on the Island might prove

to be an asset in the furtherance of scientific investigation and the

preservation of wild life. Particular attention would however need to be

given to the public relations aspect of co-operation with the scientific

interests concerned.

THE PRIME MINISTER, summing up the discussion, said that the Committee,

on balance, was in favour of the Defence Secretary's proposals. The cost

involved could properly be considered as the corollary of our decision to withdraw our bases from the Far East and as a necessary measure of assurance

for our allies on our intention to maintain a continuing capability there.

As regards the scientific interests in Aldabra, the Committee agreed with

the measures proposed by the Defence Secretary and the Secretary of State

for Education and Science who should consider further the machinery required

to co-ordinate further consultation with scientific interests.

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