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ACTION EUR-25
INFO OCT-01 EA-11 ISO-00 CIAE-00 PM-07 H-03 INR-10 L-03
NSAE-00 NSC-07 PA-04 RSC-01 PRS-01 SP-03 SS-20
USIA-15 ACDA-19 OMB-01 SAJ-01 IO-14 DRC-01 /147 W
--------------------- 024918
R 240839Z MAY 74
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0622
INFO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
CINCPAC
DIA
C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 2289
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: MARR, SN
SUBJ: UK DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS WITH SINGAPORE
REF: SINGAPORE 2217 (NOTAL)
1. PERMSEC MINDEF PANG TEE POW CONFIRMED TO VISITING
DIRECTOR DESIGNATE EA/IMS INGRAHAM, DCM AND AIR ATTACHE
MAY 24 THAT GOS HAD REQUESTED UK MINISTER OF STATE FOR
DEFENSE RODGERS TO KEEP BRITISH FORCES IN SINGAPORE.
PANG SAID GOS LEADERS HAD POINTED OUT TO RODGERS THAT
UK INVESTMENTS IN SINGAPORE BROUGHT FINANCIAL RETURNS
TO UK FAR IN EXCESS OF COST OF KEEPING BRITISH FORCES
IN SINGAPORE. THEY HAD ALSO TOLD RODGERS THAT IF UK
ABSOLUTELY HAD TO REMOVE ITS FORCES FROM SINGAPORE, IT
SHOULD DO SO ONLY VERY GRADUALLY OVER AS LONG A PERIOD
OF TIME AS POSSIBLE.
2. PANG SAID GOS HAD NOT YET DECIDED WHICH UK FORCES
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WOULD BE MOST VALUABLE TO KEEP AND WHICH COULD BE MOST
EASILY SACRIFICED IF UK WERE FORCED TO MAKE SOME CUTS. HOWEVER,
HE SAID THEY HAD STRESSED TO RODGERS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING WAS TO KEEP A VISIBLE BRITISH MILITARY PRESENCE IN
SINGAPORE FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL PURPOSES. (PAND SAID RODGERS
HAD BEEN TOLD THAT IF SINGAPORE EVER HAD TO FIGHT A WAR,
IT WOULD EXPECT UK TO FIGHT ITS BATTLES FOR IT.)
PANG SAID GOS WOULD OF COURSE WANT RETURN OF
REAL ESTATE USED OR OWNED BY
BRITISH FORCES UK DECIDED TO PULL OUT. PANG
SAID RODGERS MADE IT CLEAR NO DECISION HAD BEEN REACHED
AND THAT CURRENT THINKING IN LONDON WAS TO CONDUCT A
THOROUGH REVIEW AND ISSUE A WHITE PAPER NEXT OCTOBER.
3. IN EARLIER MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR, PERMSEC MFA
GEORGE BOGAARS SAID THAT SINGAPORE HAD GOTTEN OVER THE
SHOCK OF THE EARLIER BRITISH MILITARY WITHDRAWAL IN
THE LATE SIXITIES. HOWEVER, BRITISH FORCES STILL PERFORMED
A USEFUL STABILIZING ROLE IN THE AREA AND THAT GOS
HAD ASKED THAT THEY REMAIN IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
CRONK
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