DEF 177/01
75/51/02
and DEF
Extract from Note by the Secretary of State on
"Discussion of Defence White Paper at Cabinet on 28th March."
3. I am very unhappy about Hong Kong. The contradiction in paragraph 38 of paragraph 33 had been omitted. The Minister of Defence spoke of the navy "coming out of Hong Kong as a base." There wasn't time to pursue this. I would like to write to him about this. The sentence which was almost an aside probably won't be in the minutes.
Incidentally the President of the Board of Trade asked me privately why Hong Kong could not contribute more to Imperial Defence. I gave the obvious answer but would welcome advice. I want a draft prepared please for a personal letter from me to Alex Grantham on the shocks he will lately have suffered over these proposals. I will then after getting his answer discuss with the Prime Minister.
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