CAB148-30-Defence and Oversea Policy Committee Meetings Relating to 1967 Disturbances-1967 — Page 52

CONFIDENTIAL

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considerations, a valuable continuing asset would thus be acquired by

Botswana. Moreover with the withdrawal of our forces from Aden the cost of

maintaining British troops at Francistorm would be further increased.

decim

In further discussion the following points were also (a) Our propaganda should seek in particular to create discussions between

Mr. Smith and the extremists of the Rhodesian Front.

(b) The question of denying to the Rhodesian Television and Broadcasting

Corporation of tapes of BBC productions popular in Rhodesia should be

examined as a means of retaliation against Rhodesian jamming of BBC relays.

The Committee

-

(1) Approved the recommendations of the R(I) Committee in

R(67) 3 for the continuance of the Francistown station.

(2)

(3)

(4)

Invited the Commonwealth Secretary, in consultation with

the Defence Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Minister of Overseas Development, to arrange for the expansion and training of Botswana police on the lines suggested in discussion with a view to the withdrawal of the British guard as soon as possible.

Took note that arrangements were in hand for the overlaying

by Francistown transmitters of the frequencies used by the RBC.

Invited the Commonwealth Secretary to arrange for further

consideration to be given to the content of our publicity to Rhodesia and the denial to RTV and RBC of certain BBC productions, on the lines indicated in discussion.

Cabinet Office, S.W.1.

9th February 1967

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CONFIDENTIAL

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