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MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MAIN BUiLDiTv'G WHITEHALL LONDON SVV1 Telephone Gl im&t^X 218 2 1 1 1 / 3 SECRET MO 11/10/23 t November 197 UGANDAN ATTACK ON TAN2ANIA. The Defence Secretary has seen your letter of to Bryan Cart.ledge at No. +0. ctober Mr Mulley tc.kes the view that it would be impractical to provide the Taczanians with anti aircraft or anti t-jik equip- ment (there ju^t is none available) or indeed, much other equipment within a short tiue-scale. In these circumstances he would be grateful, therefore, if the draft telegram of instructions to our High Commissioner in Dar-es-Saiaaoi could / be amended as suggested in the attached Annex, These amend- ments are designed to make clear the limitations on our ability to help in the short term, and to put the possible visit by General Fursdon into the proper context. There is the danger that the Tanzanian Government would read more into .such a visit than our ability to help them would justify. The suggested amendments to paragraph 5 of the draft telegram seem to us to flow naturally fiom the redrafted para- graph 3, and Dr Oven may feel that paragraph 6 is redundant given our present asses sraent of the extent to which we are likely to be able to help the Tanzanians with military equip- ment., Mr Muliey could rot, of course, accept that any of the cost of military assistance to Tanzania should be met from defence votes, in the event that such assistance should prove possible. Copies go to receipients of yours. Stephen Wall Esq Foreign & Corrrconw (R T JACKLING) 1 alth