CONFIDENTIAL
2.
CRUDE OIL PIPELINE FROM BILAT TO ASHDOD
Page 272
CONFIDENTIAL
The Committee considered a memorandum by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer (OPD(67) 69) about the possible construction of a pipeline
from Eilat on the Red Sea to Ashdod on the Eastern Mediterranean,
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER said that some weeks ago a proposal
had been put to him for British participation in the construction of a pipeline, passing exclusively through Israeli territory, which would be
used to pump Iranian oil to the Mediterranean. On examination, it
appeared that the pipeline's economic advantages were by no means clearly established and, even more important, the political arguments against Her Majesty's Government's connection with the project were very strong. He thought it right, however, to invite the Committee's views on the
proposal.
In discussion, the view was generally expressed that the political
objections to British participation in the project as one of the members of a consortium were overwhelming. No harm was seen, however, in
British firms attempting to secure contracts for the supply of materials
if the Israelis and Iranians proceeded with the plan on their own.
The Committee
Agrood that in present circumstances the Government should not
participato in any consortium for the construction of the pipolino in question, but that British firms night seck orders for the equipment, should the project materialise.
Cabinet Office, S.W.1.
14th September 1967
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CONFIDENTIAL
SECRET
Page 273 of IS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNES 373 of 350
OPD (67) 31st Meeting
CABINET
72
COPY NO.
DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES of a Meeting held at
10 Downing Street, S.W.1., on
TUESDAY, 26th SEPTEMBER 1967 at 10.00 a.m.
PRESENT:
The Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson,
Prime Minister
The Rt. Hon. Michael Stewart, MP,
First Secretary of State (Item 1)
The Rt. Hon. Denis Healey, MP,
Secretary of State for Defence
MP
?
The Rt. Hon. Richard Crossman, MP,
Lord President of the Council
The Rt. Hon. Roy Jenkins, MP,
Secretary of State for the Home Department
The Rt. Hon. George Thomson, MP,
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs
THE FOLLOWING WERE ALSO PRESENT:
The Rt. Hon. Anthony Crosland,
President of the Board of Trade (Item 3)
The Rt. Hon. Reginald Prentice, MP,
Minister of Overseas Development
The Rt. Hon. George Wigs, MP,
Paymaster General
The Rt. Hon. Frederick Mulley, MP,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Marshal of the Royal Air Force
Sir Charles Elworthy, Chief of the Defence Staff
General Sir James Cassels,
Chief of the General Staff
The Rt. Hon. Anthony Wedgwood Benn, MP,
Minister of Technology (Items 2 and 3)
The Rt. Hon. Lord Shackleton,
Minister without Portfolio
The Rt. Hon. John Diamond, MP, Chief Secretary, Treasury
The Rt. Hon. Sir Elwyn Jones, QC, MP,
Attorney General (Item 1)
Admiral Sir Varyl Begg,
Chief of Naval Staff and First Sea Lord
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Grandy,
Chief of the Air Staff
SECRETARIAT:
Mr. E.M. Rose
Mr. H.L. Lawrence-Wilson
Mr. R.L.L. Facer
Major-General J.H. Gibbon
CONTENTS
Item No.
Subject:
1.
BRUNEI
Jag
FUTURE POLICY
2.
F 111 OFFSET ARRANGEMENT
Page 273.
BYRNES AMENDMENT
POSSIBLE SALE OF A VENCRE GRAAFF ACCELERATOR
TO SOUTH AFRICA
Page
1
EFFECT OF THE
3
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