Arabia Infelix
IN spite of widespread criticism in this country .and opposition in Aden itself, the Federation of South-West Arabia goes ahead. The reason for the haste is still undeclared; one has only to glance at the speeches in the Commons debate to realise the extent of the Government's reluc- tance to recognise the true situation in the Colony. Answering the question of why the Aden elections cannot be held first, Mr. Nigel Fisher, the Under-Secretary of State to the Colonial Office, declared that the amount of organised political intimidation has reached such a level as to make fair elections impos- sible. But if this is so now, how much more likely that intimidation in the face of imposed federation will increase beyond measure in future? Neither Mr. Fisher nor Mr. Sandys had any know ledge of the brutal treatment of politi- cal prisoners in Aden until the Times report on Tuesday morning. Even then they were prepared to pause only to send a telegram to the Gover- nor. In the face of such behaviour only the most cynical interpretation will suffice: that the British Government is prepared to go to any length to guarantee the short-term safety of its military base. This base has one major purpose, to de- fend British oil interests in Kuwait. But the Government would do well to consider whether such behaviour is the best way to safeguard even the shortest-term stability. British intervention in Aden cannot but intensify Egyptian efforts to stir up trouble through their new-found in- fluence in the Yemen, for however determined Brigadier Sallal is to go his own way, the reap- pearance of the Imam is bound to push him at least temporarily into Nasser's arms. Cairo Radio will not have to took very hard for a store of subversive material. Britain could well afford to keep out of this conflict where no
special British interest is involved. To impose a settlement in Aden is hardly the best way to do it.
Previous page
