§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the United Kingdom has made any contingency plans for changes in the United Kingdom's defence effort to cover a possible redeployment of United States forces away from Europe.
§ Mr. PymAs stated in the communiqué issued after our meeting on 13–14 May in Brussels, a copy of which is in the Library, NATO Ministers noted that the United States has no plans to withdraw any forces permanently stationed in Europe for use in South-West Asia. However, taking account of the international situation including South-West Asia and the possible effects of this on reinforcements available for the NATO area, Ministers agreed to consider at their next meeting in December measures designed further to improve NATO force capabilities.