On 7 July 1967, prior to the next Cabinet meeting, George Brown, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, issues a memorandum on Arab attitudes and British economic interests in the Middle East. The note outlines the events in the region over the past 20 years that have threatened the United Kingdom’s oil supplies and general economic interests in the Middle East. It also analyses American, Soviet and Israeli policy in the area and the development of relations between Arab governments. The memorandum concludes by emphasising the UK’s strong interest in rebuilding its relations with Arab countries and suggests adopting a policy of ‘maximum practicable disengagement’ from the Arab/Israeli dispute, at least from an economic and military perspective.