In addition to regular economic aid to Aɛia we are
over the next few years to provide £75 million of special
aid to laysia and Singapore (as well as transferring to
them free of charge our military installations there)
to compensate for the economic effects of our military
withdrawal.
0
That withdrawal will not make it impossible for us
to extend military aid in the future since, as I explained
to our House of Commons when in January 1968 announcing
our policy of military withdrawal Bast of Suez, "we shall
retain a general capability, based in durope including
the United Kingdon which can be deployed overseas 28,
in cur judgement, circumstances demand, including support
for United Nations operations". As the Minister of State .
at our Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Lord Shepherd, told
the SEATO Council at its meeting in Bangkok last ley, we
hope where possible to take part in SMARO exercices,
as well as to carry out from time to time training and
other exercises in concert with our Commonwealth allies
in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand,
A major such exercise is duo to take place next year.
But we see our Tuture role in Asia as one of increasing
commitment, in the fields of trade and ald, and of
educational 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
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