The letter was sent to defence procurement minister Lord Drayson and copied to defence secretary Des Browne and armed forces minister Adam Ingram as well as the defence chiefs of staff.
Germany sent its defence minister, Rudolf Scharping, who said they were hopeful.
President Kennedy has sent his defence secretary, Robert McNamara, who is warmly cheered by the crowd.
In November Russia sent its defence minister to Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, for the first time in over two decades, signalling that it might begin arms sales to Pakistan.
Last year David Cameron sent a defence minister to the city to confirm its suitability as a focal point for the UK's centenary commemorations.
President Clinton sent his defence secretary to the Middle East.See article: Iraq challenges the UN, againThe Palestinians submitted a security plan, demanded by the Wye accord, to the Americans, who declared it satisfactory.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy suspended all military operations on the ground, and sent his defence minister, Gérard Longuet, to Kabul to investigate whether conditions were safe enough for French troops to continue to operate.
Odd, that: I distinctly remember that when he was sent to Defence, we were told that Geoff, as a man now destined to mix with the military, would henceforth be known as Geoffrey.
But an open letter from 50 international law academics sent to defence minister Marise Payne this week has called for Australia to reconsider its support for nuclear weapons and their deterrent capabilities.
