Introductory article by the Prime Minister for the "Britain in Asia" supplement to be published
with the 25th September, 1969, issue of "Far Eastern Economic Review"
Gian
приорал
I welcome this opportunity to contribute an introduction
to the "Britain in Asia" supplement of "Far Eastern Economic
Review", a publication of importance to all who concern
themselves with Asian affairs.
For nearly two centuries the British Empire in Asia
was a major factor in Asian affairs. Now almost all of it
has been replaced by sovereign, independent states, and
we are in the process of withdrawing our last permanent
military garrisons East of Suez (other than that in Hong
Kong). However this does not in any way mean that we are
going to lose interest in a part of the world with which
our contacts have been so varied, so deep and so long-
standing.
We remain members of the Colombo Plan, of the Asian
Development Bank, of the United Nations Economic Commission
for Asia and the Far East, and of the South-East Asia Treaty
Organisation. About two-fifths of all our bilateral aid
is to Asian countries; this amounted to some £68 million in
1968. Despite our current balance of payments difficulties
we have maintained the level of our basic overseas aid pro-
gramme.
In addition to regular economic aid to Asia we are
providing £75 million of special aid to Malaysia and
Singapore (as well as transferring to them free of charge our
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