CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 45

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In further discussion it was noted that the withdrawal of the

Shackleton aircraft from Malta was not part of the defence reductions and

would proceed irrespective of the reductions planned in the defence review, which on present plans were to begin in May.

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

agreed that instructions should go to our High Commissioner in Malta to

invite Dr. Olivier to London for further negotiations on our proposals to

reduce our forces in Malta. It should be a precondition of the negotiations

that the Maltese discontinued legislation to repeal their Visiting Forces Act

and ceased the present harassment of our forces; they should also agree not to press their arguments that our reduction of forces et constituteda

breach of the Anglo-Malta Defence Agreement. For our part we should lay

emphasis on ways of helping Malta to meet the economic consequences of the

rundown: our discussions should include the industrial Commission, the

Development Corporation, the dry dock and the free port and it would be an

essential part of any agreement that the Maltese Government should nationalise

the dockyard. Additionally we should offer to discuss the rephasing of the

rundown within the four year period. The details of our offer should be

prepared by a working party of officials under Cabinet Office auspices.

Emphasis might be placed on the economic aspects of the negotiations by

associating the Minister of Overseas Development with them as well as the Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs (in the absence of the Commonwealth Secretary on his overseas tour). He would himself be prepared

to have an initial and concluding discussion with Dr. Olivier, and for this

reason it would be convenient if Dr. Olivier could be invited to London in

the week beginning 20th February.

The Committee

(1)

Invited the Commonwealth Secretary to instruct the High Commissioner in Malta to invite Dr. Olivier to discussions ₫n the United Kingdom reductions, on the lines indicated by the Prime Minister in his summing up.

(2) Took note that the Prime Minister would arrange for

a working party of officials to study the details of the proposals to be put forward in these discussions.

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

7th February 1967

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