military installations there) to help offset the economic
effects of our military withdrawal.
Our withdrawal does not mean that we will not be able
to provide military aid in future.
military capability based in Europe
We plan to retain a
D
including the United
Kingdom which can be deployed elsewhere if we think
circumstances demand. We hope where possible to take part
in SEATO exercises as well as to carry out from time to
time training exercises with our Commonwealth allies in
Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
But we
see our future role in Asia as one of increasing
commitment in the fields of trade and aid, and of educa-
tional, scientific and technical co-operation. In these
fields the experience of working and trading with one
another, which is a legacy of Britain's past great involve-
ment in Asia, should be to our mutual advantage.
And our
co-operation should be facilitated not hindered when there
is no longer any suspicion of imperialism, a policy which,
as a Socialist, I am glad to see relegated to the past.
We are greatly impressed with the progress being made
by many Asian nations in raising the living standards of
their people, not least by the Crown Colony of Hong Kong
where the headquarters of this Review are situated. We
believe that a high level of trade has an important part
to play in this process. Where financial aid is still
needed we shall be ready to contribute up to the limit of
what we can afford.
We hope that the tragic conflict in Vietnam may be
although too slowly and painfully drawing to a close.
/Thereafter
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