September 26, 2000

Dreyfus Debt and Equity Funds, on behalf of
Dreyfus Short Term High Yield Fund
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166

The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust, on behalf of
Dreyfus Premier Limited Term High Income Fund
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166

Re:     Registration Statement on Form N-14
          (REGISTRATION NO. 333-39626)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You have requested our opinion as to certain Federal income tax consequences of the reorganization contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, substantially in the form included as Exhibit A to the Registration Statement on Form N-14 of The Dreyfus/Laurel Funds Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Dreyfus/Laurel Trust”) (Reg. No. 333-39626) (the “Registration Statement”), between the Dreyfus/Laurel Trust, on behalf of Dreyfus Premier Limited Term High Income Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”), and Dreyfus Debt and Equity Funds, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”), on behalf of Dreyfus Short Term High Yield Fund (the “Fund”). You have advised us that the Acquiring Fund and the Fund have each qualified as “regulated investment companies” within the meaning of Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for each of their taxable years ending on or before or including the Closing Date.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, the Registration Statement, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or relevant for the purpose of this opinion. In issuing our opinion, we have relied upon statements and representations of the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and of the Dreyfus/Laurel Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, made in the Registration Statement and to us for our use in rendering this opinion. As to various questions of fact material to this opinion, where relevant facts were not independently established by us, we have relied upon statements of, and written information provided by, representatives of the Trust and the Dreyfus/Laurel Trust. We also have examined such matters of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion. We note that our opinion is based on our examination of such law, our review of the documents described above, the statements and representations referred to above and in the Registration Statement and the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, the provisions of the Code, the regulations, published rulings and announcements thereunder, and the judicial interpretations thereof currently in effect. Any change in applicable law or any of the facts and circumstances described in the Registration Statement, or inaccuracy of any statements or representations on which we have relied, may affect the continuing validity of our opinion.

Capitalized terms not defined herein have the respective meanings given such terms in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization.

Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that for Federal income tax purposes:

          a) The transfer of all or substantially all of the Fund’s assets in exchange for the Acquiring Fund shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of certain identified liabilities of the Fund will constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code;

          b) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of the assets of the Fund solely in exchange for the Acquiring Fund shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of certain identified liabilities of the Fund;

          c) No gain or loss will be recognized by the Fund upon the transfer of the Fund’s assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for the Acquiring Fund shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of certain identified liabilities of the Fund or upon the distribution of the Acquiring Fund shares to Fund shareholders in exchange for their Fund shares;

          d) No gain or loss will be recognized by Fund shareholders upon the exchange of their Fund shares for the Acquiring Fund shares;

          e) The aggregate tax basis for the Acquiring Fund shares received by each Fund shareholder pursuant to the reorganization will be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the Fund shares held by such shareholder immediately prior to the reorganization, and the holding period of the Acquiring Fund shares to be received by each Fund shareholder will include the period during which the Fund shares exchanged therefor were held by such shareholder (provided the Fund shares were held as capital assets on the date of the reorganization); and

          f) The tax basis of the Fund’s assets acquired by the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the tax basis of such assets to the Fund immediately prior to the reorganization, and the holding period of the assets of the Fund in the hands of the Acquiring Fund will include the period during which those assets were held by the Fund.

No opinion is expressed as to the effect of the reorganization on (i) the Fund or the Acquiring Fund with respect to any asset as to which any unrealized gain or loss is required to be recognized for Federal income tax purposes at the end of a taxable year (or on the termination or transfer thereof) under a mark-to-market system of accounting, and (ii) any Fund shareholder that is required to recognize gains and losses for Federal income tax purposes under a mark-to-market system of accounting.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to any application made by or on behalf of the Acquiring Fund or any distributor or dealer in connection with the registration and qualification of the Acquiring Fund shares under the securities laws of any state or jurisdiction. In giving such permission, we do not admit hereby that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN LLP