TNAG-0116-FCO40-152-Departmental-Briefs-For-Meetings--Visits-and-Foreign-Affairs-1969 — Page 60

Of the few remaining territories in Asia and its

adjacent seas for which the United Kingdom still retains

some political responsibility some may wish to proceed to

full independence, others may not. It is not our

intention to delay independence for those who desire it,

or to force it on those who do not..

Despite the difficulties we, with others, have

experienced in dealing with the world's most populous

nation, China, it remains the policy of Her Majesty's

Government to demonstrate to the Chinese that it is in

their interest to normalise relations.. We think it

important to break down the barriers between China and

the outside world by expanding contacts with them and

encouraging them to become responsible members of the

international community. It follows that it remains our

policy to see the occupation of the China seat in the

United Nations by Peking.

We are greatly impressed with the progress being made

by other Asian Great Powers, India, Pakistan and Japan,

and much value our relations with each of them. With

them, as with all the countries of Asia, we look forward

to friendly co-operation.

We hope that the tragic conflict in Vietnam may be,

although too slowly and painfully, drawing to a close.

Thereafter the security of that area, as of other areas in

Asia, should depend chiefly on mutual regional co-operation,

underpinned by the resources of the free world.

Our support will always be behind all who are working

for peace, the progress and the increasing prosperity of

/Asia,

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