Financial Aid For Arab Federation

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 17

Financial Aid For Arab Federation

(N Z P.A. Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, June 14.

Britain is to give the South Arabian Federation a lump sum of up to £5,500.000 plus extra annual aid lasting until 1971 to help build up its armed forces, it was announced in London yesterday.

The announcement, in a written Ministerial answer in Parliament, came after three weefe of talks in London between the British Government and Ministers of the federation, which is due to

become independent by 1968. Britain has already announced that she will pull out of her big military base at Aden by then, but is willing to help in strengthening the armed forces of the federation, which borders Yemen. The announcement said that Britain had also agreed to increase Its present contribution to the recurrent costs of the federation’s forces by up to £2,500,000 annually. In Addition This will be in addition to £sm a year that Britain already gives to the federation’s budget as a whole and to the £4,600,000 annually it gives to the federation’s regular Army. The federation Ministerial delegation in London asked for aid to increase the strength of the regular Army from five to 10 battalions of Infantry and from one to two batteries of artillery. It also asked for eight jet fighter aircraft, about a dozen reconnaissance and transport aircraft, helicopters, a squadron of armoured cars, and two small naval coastal patrol craft.

Election Conceded.—The Presidential candidate, Juan Bosch, yesterday conceded victory in the June 1 general elections. He said he would lead “an honest, democratic opposition" to the government of President-elect Joaquin Balaguer.—Santo Domingo, June 14.