U.K. defence cuts

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33519, 27 April 1974, Page 17

U.K. defence cuts

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright} LONDON. Britain’s Minister of | Defence (Mr Roy i Mason) has hinted at i massive cuts in spending on defence, and says that the nation has too many commitments. He told a meeting of mine-workers at Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire: "The sun, although not set, is fast vanishing over the horizon. We are much overstretched. We have too many commitments and they are expensive to maintain.” Mr Mason, himself a former mineworkers’ union official, said that defence cuts on the scale planned by the new Labour Government could mean higher unemployment at home. But he said: ‘‘Are we still to pretend we are still the military police of the world, scattering regiments and units all over the globe? Of course not."

Mr Mason made no specific mention of Malta. Cyprus or Singapore, which are' three of the most important , overseas British bases outside West Germany and the United Kingdom itself. There are about 2,500 British soldiers and airmen in Malta. Mr Mason’s speech came as Malta's Prime Minister, (Mr Mintoff) was beginning talks in London with British Government Ministers.' Mr Mason said that thej

Government had already agreed to two cuts in defence — £l7Bm by the Tories in December 1973, and a further £som last month—a total of £262m at 1974 prices.

But Mr Mason said that it I was wrong to carry out the i examination “in dribbles.” He said: “This is not a [sensible approach to this problem at all. Some contracts will have to be sev;ered, firms may face financial difficulties, alternative j jobs may not be available and many of these are likely to be in our development areas. “Far better to review all our commitments, give notice after consultation with allies of our withdrawals, re-examine the future role of all our forces, let industry know of our reduced operations and subsequently the total need for arms, so that an orderly reduction of service requirements and change over of industrial work can take place.” Mr Mason said that as Secretary of Defence, “I have no friends. The cuts! in defence expenditure would give rise to concern among some industries, their workers and their trade unions.”

Of job losses he warned: “As these get under way,! the Ministers for Industry will have a new dimension; added to their portfolio and that is finding alternative work for the unemployed of: the defence industries as well as for cancelled defence export orders." I

The Government’s aim was to ensure that the : defence expenditure in sup-: port of the North Atlantic; Treaty Organisation was brought into line with that; of Britain’s N.A.T.O. allies. Ulster troops Mr Mason began a politiI cal controversy when he stated that pressure was. mounting in Northern Ire--land to withdraw British ; troops. He spent much of yesterday afternoon trying to! defuse the statement, with: assurances that the troops! would remain in the prov-l ince as long as they had a! job to do. But ' to opponents, and' some Party followers, Mr! Mason appeared to cast doubts on the new Labour! Government's policy for! Northern Ireland, just after it had endorsed a peace plan, involving power-sharing be-1 tween the Catholic and Pro-i : testant communities. This plan is based on the continuing presence of troops to combat extremists. Mr Mason told the meeting of miners: “Pressure is: mounting on the mainland to pull out the troops. Equally, demands are being made to set p date for the withdrawal. thereby forcing the warring factions to get together and hammer out a solution.” He appealed-to people in Northern Ireland to do more to help themselves by joining the police and the parttime defence force, |