TNAG-0116-FCO40-152-Departmental-Briefs-For-Meetings--Visits-and-Foreign-Affairs-1969 — Page 52

SECOND DRALT

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"

I am glad to be able to contribute an introduction to

the "Britain in Asia" supplement of "Far Eastern Economic Review",

a publication of much value to all who concern

themselves with Asian affairs.

Britain has a long history of association with many

of the countries cr Asia. For nearly two centuries the

British Empire in Asin vas u 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Now almost all of it has been replaced by sovereign,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

Lean 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 (not including the Middle East); this

amounted to sone £68 million in 1968. Despite our current

balance of payments difficulties we have maintained the level

of our basic overscas ald programme.

/In