CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 39

CONFIDENTIAL

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The Committee then discussed the section of the draft dealing with

our views on NATO strategy. It was argued that despite the substantial reduction of the draft, which could not well be taken further if any statement were to be made at all, it remained a major unilateral statement of strategic policy. As such it required very careful consideration both as to substance and timing, and would be better deferred until the

current defence studies and the discussions in NATO were completed. It

was suggested that the material in the section might however be used in

the defence debate. Against this it was pointed out that previous

Statements on Defence had dealt with our attitude to NATO and that to say

nothing this year, when the strong views that we held were well known

to our allies and to the press, would be bound to provoke questions and

to cast doubt on the firmness of the Government's views. We should

then come under heavy pressure to modify these. On balance the Committee

considered that the proposed section on NATO strategy should be included

in the policy and planning chapter though the first sentence of

paragraph 14 which dealt with our reliance on the threat of using nuclear

weapons should be omitted.

In further discussion a number of other amendments in the draft

chapter were agreed. It was also noted that the Vote on Account would

be published on 16th February, the same day as the Statement on the

Defence Estimates.

The Committee

Invited the Defence Secretary to revise the draft section in

accordance with the discussion and to circulate it to the Cabinet for their consideration on the following day.

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CONFIDENTIAL

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